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STATIONARY SURVEILLANCE IN URBAN AREAS, PART 1

NCJ Number
54944
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 26 Issue: 3 Dated: (MARCH 1978) Pages: 46,51-52
Author(s)
R P SILJANDER
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
GUIDELINES FOR PLANNING AND CONDUCTING POLICE STAKEOUTS IN URBAN AREAS ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
STATIONARY SURVEILLANCE--STAKEOUT--MEANS WATCHING A GIVEN SUBJECT OR AREA. STATIONARY SURVEILLANCE MAY LEAD TO MOVING SURVEILLANCE; I.E., CONTACTING THE SUBJECT. STAKEOUTS ALSO ARE CONDUCTED WHEN POLICE HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT A BURGLARY OR ROBBERY WILL TAKE PLACE AT A CERTAIN ESTABLISHMENT WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME, OR WHEN THEY SUSPECT THAT FENCING OR SOME OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IS TAKING PLACE INSIDE AN ESTABLISHMENT. IN PLANNING A STAKEOUT, DECISION MUST BE MADE REGARDING THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS REQUIRED, THE DURATION OF THE OPERATION, THE EQUIPMENT TO BE USED, AND THE OBSERVATION POST. POTENTIAL OBSERVATION POSTS INCLUDE AUTOMOBILES, VANS AND CAMPERS, ROOMS IN NEIGHBORING BUILDINGS, ROOFTOPS, AND OUTDOOR POSTS. AT TIMES IT IS NECESSARY FOR OFFICERS TO RESORT TO UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS TO CONDUCT A SURVEILLANCE. GUIDELINES FOR MAKING STAKEOUT PLANNING DECISIONS ARE PRESENTED, WITH EMPHASIS ON FACTORS IN SELECTING AN OBSERVATION POST AND IN CONDUCTING A SURVEILLANCE FROM EACH TYPE OF OBSERVATION POST. (LKM)