Vehicle surveillance: Basic tactics of the FBI... Copyright (c) 1998 Lee Adams. All rights reserved. http://www.SPYCOUNTERSPY.com Be sure you read and understand the legal small print concerning this article (This information is from site http://www.chymerick.com/orgs/spyvsspy which is down presently) This is the second article in a five-part series that eaches you how to respond when confronted by FBI wheel artists- and the FBI's floating-box system of vehicle surveillance. If you havn't yet read the first article, please return th our home page and click on FBI vehicle surveillance 1. The story up to now. In the previous article you learned about the FBI's floating-box system. You saw how FBI agents don't just follow you, they surround you. You also found out about the different functions of each vehicle in the surveillance team- command, backup, outriders, and advance. You also discovered how the FBI's stakeout box operates. You learned how the trigger vehicle signals the layup vehicle to pick up the follow when the target drives away. Even more important, you learned about command of the target. You saw how a cheating command vehicle is located in front of the target. You learned how a commit vehicle is located as a decision point. You saw how the commit vehicle is used to cue a layup vehicle to enter the situation and assume command of the target. What you'll learn next. In this tutorial you'll learn about the mechanical modifications that the FBI makes to its surveillance vehicles. You'll see how these modifications give the surveillance team an advantage over you. You'll also see how members of the surveillance team communicate with each other. You'll learn why you never see them talking. You'll see graphic examples of teamwork and tactics utilized by the surveillance team. You'll learn how they handle intersection turns, U-turns, returning to a parked car, and other situations. You'll also discover how the vehicle surveillance team supports activities of the foot surveillance team. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Vehicle modifications... The FBI employs a potpourri of different vehicles inits surveillance operations. Wheel artists drive anything and everything, including sedans, coupes, stationwagons, pickup trucks, vans, minivans, sport utility vehicles, taxis, motorcycles, commercial trucks, ambulances, 18-wheelers and others. Manh of these surveillance vehicles have been specially modified for their role. See illustration below. Probrably the most significant modification is the addition of cutout switches and dimmer switches for many of the lights on the surveillance vehicle. Headlamps. The driver can disable either of the front headlamps. He can also adjust the brightness of the headlamps. This provides a tremendous advantage at night- the agent can alter the way her vehicle appears to drivers. For part of the follow the surveillance vehicle has two normal healights. For a while it might show only the left headlamp. And for part of the follow the vehicle might exhibit dimmed headlamps, suggestive of a faulty alternator or low battery condition. Many unwitting targets of surveillance have been completely hoodwinked by this feature. Brake lights. The FBI agent can also disable the vehicle's brake lights. This is particularly effective when the agent has a cheating command of the target. That means the FBI agent is positioned ahead of the target. If the agent's brake lights are not continually flashing, the target is less likely to detect that the agent is adjusting her speed in order to maintain a constant distance in front of the target. Again, many targets have been fooled by this modification. Stall switch. Some FBI surveillance vehicles are equiped with a stall switch. This allows the wheel artist to simulate a vehicle breakdown. This deception is particularly effective in helping the FBI recover from mistakes during a follow. Stalled in front of the target vehicle, and apparently unable to get the vehicle started, and FBI agent is able to delay the target until the rest of the surveillance team gets back into position. Bumpers. FBI surveillance vehicles can be equiped with reinforced ramming bumpers. These are effective when agents need to prevent a suspect from fleeing- or force a victim off the road at high speed. Standard modifications. Because of the stress involved in constant on-road use, FBI mechanics routinely make a number of standard modifications to the Bureau's surveillance vehicles. They often install a heavy-duty radiator and battery. A heavy-duty steering pump is also a common feature. These, along with top-quality shocks and springs, enhance the staying power of the vehicle during long follows. One of our contacts has recently told us that the FBI uses stainless steel brake lines in many of its surveillance vehicles. This modification apparently boosts performance by overcoming certain types of condensation and heat-related problems during some weather conditions. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- next page |
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