Surveillance means watching a person or place over a set period and writing down what happens. It answers narrow questions well: where someone goes, who they meet, whether a routine matches what you have been told. It is less suited to broad questions, and it works best when you know roughly when and where to look.
When surveillance helps
Suspected infidelity. Whether a partner is where they say they are, and who they are with. This is the most common reason people call us.
Custody-related concerns. A parent may want to know what happens during the other parent's time, or who is around the children. We document what we observe, and you decide with your attorney how to use it.
Checking a story. Whether someone's account of their activities, such as work hours or where they live, holds up.
Surveillance is often paired with a background check or an online investigation. Records and social media can narrow down when and where to watch, which makes the hours spent in the field count for more.
How we plan it
Good surveillance starts before anyone gets in a car. At the consultation we ask for:
Recent photos of the person
The vehicles they drive, with plates if you have them
Addresses that matter: home, work, places they may visit
The days and times you think are most likely to matter, and why
The more specific you can be about timing, the fewer hours are spent waiting for nothing to happen.
What we will not do
Surveillance has to stay within the law. We observe from public places. We do not trespass, place a tracking device on a vehicle without the consent of its owner or lessee (which Texas law requires), record conversations we are not part of, or pose as someone in a position of authority. Anything gathered illegally can create legal problems for you, as well as for us.
What it cannot do
Surveillance shows what happened during the hours someone was watching, and nothing else. If the person stays home, changes plans or behaves normally, a shift can end with nothing to report. That is a real result, but it is not proof that nothing ever happens. Some questions take more than one session to answer, and some are better approached through records first.
What you receive
A written report of what was observed, with times and locations, and photos or video where they could be taken legally.
Where and how it is priced
We conduct surveillance in Austin and Central Texas, including Waco, Temple and Killeen. It is billed hourly with a four-hour minimum. Billed time starts when the investigator leaves our location and ends when they return, so travel to and from the surveillance site is included. The plan and cost are set in a written agreement before any work starts.
Considering surveillance?
Read more about our surveillance service or contact us for a free, confidential consultation. Just the Facts Investigations, LLC is a licensed Texas private investigation firm based in Austin.