About Surveillance Services
When done correctly, surveillance is one of the most effective tools that an investigator has in their arsenal and is often the cornerstone of many investigations. Surveillance is the practice of secretly monitoring and observing a person, a physical location or a vehicle and documenting those observations for future use, through detailed written reports, or a variety of technologies including video, still photography, audio recording, and GPS tracking. Evidence obtained through a surveillance can often provide the airtight and irrefutable evidence needed to prove or disprove a suspicion.
Surveillance is often used for the following types of cases:
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Workers Compensation and Insurance Fraud
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Embezzlement and Other Frauds
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Sexual Harassment and Stalking
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Corporate Takeovers
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Employee Substance Abuse and Illegal Drug Use
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Other Employee Misconduct
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Sick Leave Abuse
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Employment Verification
Our Surveillance Experts
As they say, you either have it or you don't. The same can be said for investigators who perform surveillance. The ability to conduct an effective surveillance blends a unique combination of training, experience, dedication and skill. MSA Investigation's surveillance operatives possess all of these skills and are culled from the most experienced law enforcement investigators at the local, state and federal levels including active and retired members of the New York City Police Department. We only hire the best.
Our Surveillance Operations
The most important objective in any surveillance is to ensure that object of the investigation is unaware they are being watched. Being discovered in any surveillance can often jeopardize an entire investigation, as the subject of the investigation will often change their behavior. If you do not have the evidence you need at that point, you may not get another opportunity. In the New York City Police Department, we referred to being discovered or spotted by the subject of an investigation, as "taking a burn" or "getting toasted". Sometimes it cannot be avoided, but in most situations proper planning an the proper assignment of the right people and right amount of people can usually guard against being detected.
The second most important objective is to properly document and memorialize any observations that the investigator makes in such a manner that it can be utilized if need be in a court of law or other appropriate venue. The investigator must also be skilled as a witness to offer testimony to support the evidence obtained during the surveillance.
MSA Investigations has vast experience performing surveillance cases in many states and in various situations, settings and degrees of difficulty. We will take the time to ensure that our surveillance operations are properly planned and executed to deliver the desired result. We also ensure that our expert investigators will provide the type of testimony needed in court to support our investigations.
The following are the basic forms of surveillance that we will perform for clients. On many occasions, we will use a combination of these tools to uncover the evidence in the best and most cost effective manner:
Physical Surveillance
Physical Surveillance is often conducted by either male or female operates, or sometimes both, that are physically maintaining constant close watch of a subject usually from an observation post, on foot or with a vehicle of some type.
Electronic Surveillance
Electronic Surveillance constitutes a number of technologies that include watching a subject from a static covert cameras that is installed to observe a location over time or to record video of a person who is on the go. It can sometimes involve the use of audio recordings as well.
GPS Tracking
GPS tracking involves a variety of technologies that can be implemented to track and document the historical location of vehicles, objects or persons over time. Tracking reports can document a vehicle 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and can include details such as addresses, durations, and speed. To learn more about GPS Tracking, please visit our GPS Tracking - Frequently Asked Questions.
Surveillance - Coverage Areas
MSA Investigations provides investigative services throughout the United States and abroad. MSA Investigations and MSA Security are headquartered in New York City, with offices in
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Boston, Massachusetts
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Washington DC
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Chicago, Illinois
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Eatontown, New Jersey
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Abu Dhabi (Middle East)
MSA investigations is bonded and insured and currently maintains a Private Investigator's License in 20 different states and the District of Columbia. These states include New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Colorado, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
In states where we are not licensed, we have identified and vetted quality investigative firms that we will partner with to conduct investigations. If for some reason we cannot provide you with the services you require, we will refer you to a reputable firm that can help you.