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Cooling: Cut a 3" hole in the floor of your van using a steel
hole-saw.
- Attach a PVC deck-plate inside the vehicle (available at boating supply
- stores) to cover/finish the hole. Under the van, in an appropriate
location
- (away from exhaust system) attach a 12v blower motor (also from boating
supply) to the deck-plate and wire an on/off switch. When it get's hot,
unscrew the deck-plate and flip the switch. Although it's not
- air-conditioning, it does create quite a breeze inside, making surveillance
- a little more bearable. Tip: The better the motor, the quieter the
motor.
- Tip: Upon selling the vehicle, leave the deck-plate in place and remove
the blower-motor. As a selling point, tell the next owner the hole is good
for disposing of open beer cans when the cops are following.
-
- Concealment: Accompany your wife/grandmother to the fabric store
and purchase 2 - 3 yards of black mesh cotton or nylon cloth (heavy, not
- sheer). It will have square holes approx. 1/8" in size. You should
be able
- to see through it when draped over your head (this is where wife/grandma
come in handy for cover...try this by yourself inside the store and security
might toss you out). Keep the cloth folded in the back of your vehicle.
In certain lighting situations, even with tinted windows, it is possible
for persons to see you inside the vehicle. When these conditions occur,
drape the cloth over yourself and camera. Instant Invisible Man. You can
still see out and shoot through the cloth. Also good for covering the dashboard
when the reflection makes it difficult to shoot through the front window.
Tip: If an LEO approaches your vehicle, remove the cloth from over your
head before attempting to explain who you are and what you are doing.
-
- Vehicle Maintenance: I know there is much debate on this subject,
but I believe it worked for me. One of my previous vehicles, a Chev. Astro
Van, was fed Synthetic Mobil 1 oil its' entire life, every 3000 ~ 5000
mi. This van was beat into the ground, but, even after 140,000 hard miles,
the engine still purred. NEVER had a mechanical problem in 8 years! No
valve noise, no oil burning, no leaks...nothing! Mobil 1 is about $3 per
quart, but a new engine cost a lot more.
-
- That's all for now...hope to hear from everyone else,
-
- S. Kaye - ispy@abac.com
- The Surveillance Group dba
- Surveillance Incorporated
- P.O. Box 13412
- La Jolla, CA 92039-3412
- CA PI Lic. 17179
- EMAIL: ispy@abac.com
-
- Concealment: (IN RE OF ABOVE) We use something similar to this.
I use a Chevy Tahoe for surveillance and it has fairly dark back windows,
however I have 4 semi-sheer nylon sheets, about 3' x 6' they have stick
on Velcro attached, and when sitting in the back, I can place them over
all the windows that I am not using. This also cuts out the silhouette
that could be seen when the lighting is just right.
-
- I like it better this way, and it is much easier then having yourself
draped
- in the fabric. It also allows you to have the "curtain" hanging
behind the
- front seats, so that no one can see in the back through the untinted
front
- or front-side windows. BTW, the total cost for the materials, nylon,
stick
- on Velcro pads, bungie cords to go around to hang them on, etc. was
about
- $15.00.
-
- Just my $.02.
-
- Russell Hons
- Hons Investigations
- Grand Forks, ND
- (701) 775-7704
- honspi@gfherald.infi.net
- http://www.pimall.com/hons
- ICQ# 3344627
- ND Lic. No. 800 MN Lic. No. 756
-
- Member: NAIS, ION, NAPPS
-
- Email: honspi@gfherald.infi.net
-
- Type Of Van: Hi group,
-
- I'll also add my $0.02....
-
- Type Of Van: Stay away from extended vans, vans that are pure,
shiny white, and if you can, shy away from periscope cameras. Surveillance
subjects, especially in medical claims, and MOST especially ones who belong
to unions, are getting VERY smart these days. It has been previously discovered
that some larger unions actually have sent out surveillance van specs,
and what tell-tale signes to watch out for.
-
- It always amazed me that people wear camouflage clothing (i.e., fatigues)
on the street. Some actually believe it'll blend them in. Yeah, right.
My
- camouflage on the street is Levi's and a shirt. Guess who blends in
better?
- Use the same technique with surveillance vehicles. I'll save furhter
- recommendations and tips for the licensed individuals on the list (no
offense to the lurkers) that respond privately.
-
- When considering a van, go to a parking lot or street where "on-street"
- parking is allowed, and look around and see who blends and who doesn't.
When common sense is applied, you can usually go with it.
-
- Best regards,
- Dan Cavallini
- 20/20 Investigations, Inc
- Indianapolis, IN
- EMAIL: PI2020@aol.com
-
-
- I'll add my .02's and maybe the collection plate will grow 9-)
-
- I agree with Dan Cavallini, vans for surveillance uses tend to be eyesores!!
-
- I use a Honda CR-V, equipped with a portable surveillance package,
- consisting of two mobile event recorders, a mini quad, 2 B&W &
2 COLOR cameras w/PIR's, 2 LCD monitors, and a laptop with celluar modem.
System runs indendpendtly with it's own battery, recharged by a single
12 vdc solar pannel. The modem allows me to position the CR-V anywhere
and access the system remotely. Windows are tinted, and to prevent detection
from the front, I just place a cardboard sunshade in the windshield.
-
- Anyone can easily make this system, components costing less than $3500.
Sure beats the 30-45K price tag associated with turn-key surveillance vans!!
-
- Regards,
-
- Kelly Fromm,
-
- Shadow Chaser Investigations (A9700354)
- http://www.shadow-chasers.com/
-
- MEMBER: NAIS, NAFI, ACI, ACIP, SCIP
- Email: shadowchaser@shadow-chasers.com
-
-
- I use a Honda CR-V, equipped with a portable surveillance package,
- consisting of two mobile event recorders, a mini quad, 2 B&W &
2 COLOR cameras w/PIR's, 2 LCD monitors, and a laptop with celluar >modem.
-
- Why would you place all this equipment on a motorcycle?
-
- Just kidding...this sounds like my "Trojan Horse" (TM)...a
self-contained
- van (no tinting, no curtains) that can be left in place for 2 ~ 3 days
- while filming a claimant's residence or the "back-door" of
a business. One
- camera, one 12v timelapse vcr and one big-ass marine deep-cycle battery.
- Low-tech, low-budget, low-key.
-
- S. Kaye - ispy@abac.com
-
Battery Power: Here' s my .02.....if you want long lasting, dependable
12V power, buy yourself 2 Trojan 6volt golf cart batteries, wire them in
series and they will last 3 - 4 times as long as any HD marine 12V battery.
Get the Trojans, they are the best on the market for around $50.00 per
battery.
Wally Rossow
Blue Heron Investigations, Inc.
Venice, FL FL Lic #A9700170
(941) 486-1386 Fax (941) 486-1151
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