When all other investigative methods have failed, or if your problem requires a more proactive investigative approach, an undercover sting may be the last, or only, effective strategy remaining. Butler & Associates has been creating and successfully executing undercover stings for our clientele for many years, both domestically and internationally. While undercover stings are considered by many to be the stuff of Hollywood entertainment, reality dictates that these assignments procure extraordinary creativity, meticulous planning, and razor-sharp acting. Many of these assignments are dangerous and require special items, personnel, and equipment that may be costly.
To begin with, an undercover sting is really a well-planned designed coincidence, utilizing available and specially-obtained resources that 1) creates a favorable situation or environment for the Subject of the investigation to act within, and 2) results in the predicted behavior of the Subject. In other words, the undercover sting is an intricate illusion created to fool the Subject into believing that the circumstances within which they find themselves are real. If the investigative Subject truly believes the illusion, they should act in a predictable manner (within a reasonable degree of certainty) to prove or disprove a suspicion, or provide information the Subject would otherwise not release under standard circumstances. The illusion created by this designed coincidence is crafted to weaken the professional (or protective) facade we all erect to effectively hide our true base desires; these true base desires are more likely to come to fruition in an environment that is perceived as favorable, safe, or easily exploitable by the Subject. The end product of the undercover sting often results in hard evidence that can be used to criminally prosecute or introduce a means of leverage to a pre-existing situation.
A basic example of a popular undercover sting is law enforcement's use of a "bait car". A "bait car" is a vehicle containing hidden cameras, microphones, a GPS tracking system, and a remote-controlled engine shut-off switch designed to catch auto thieves. The "bait car" is usually left parked, unlocked, unoccupied, and with the keys in the ignition in an area of high crime. By parking the "bait car" in this location and condition, law enforcement officers create a situation, or illusion, that is very appealing to criminals... a coincidence by design. The Subject of the undercover sting is any person who possesses the criminal desire to steal a car and chooses to act on their predicted behavior (stealing the car). This predicted behavior is caught on videotape and often results in the immediate arrest of the criminal (as well as entertainment on television).
Our firm has designed many coincidences which place our investigators or undercover decoys into the Subject's world where the suspected behavior is observed at a proximity not possible through standard surveillance tactics. Infiltrating venues such as the workplace, the health club, the local bar or restaurant, or even the supermarket (just to name a few), our personnel very often get close enough to the Subject to obtain the desired evidence or information. It is important to note that our personnel NEVER induce a Subject into engaging in activity; we simply create the illusion of a scenario, within which the Subject is free to act as he or she pleases. Our investigators are there to observe, record, and report. Drug dealers, drunk drivers, scam artists, pedophiles, perjurers, thieves... all have been caught as a result of our designed coincidences. The application of creativity, strategy, and the right personnel results in endless situations, or coincidences, to which the Subject can be exposed.
To effectively design an undercover sting, we must understand the person who will be the Subject of the undercover sting. Our client is required to tell us as much as possible about the Subject. This allows us create a character profile on the Subject, helping us to identify and bring out the desired behavior that is essential to obtaining the evidence or information. Once we have a good understanding of the Subject's behavior patterns, coupled with other important information on the Subject (job, hobbies, travel plans, special events, friends, co-workers, etc), we can begin to develop a strategy to elicit specific information or predicted behavior. The predicted behavior could be anywhere from criminal in nature to completely benign; however, it is often exactly what our client desired to address their particular situation.
As confidentiality is of paramount concern to all parties involved in an undercover sting, we are prohibited from providing any details regarding private-party cases utilizing this investigative tactic. For an ABC news story about our undercover stings on unlicensed private investigators, click here.
If you have a difficult investigative request or situation that you feel compelled to discuss relative to an undercover sting, please give us a call or send an email. All inquiries are treated as confidential.
