tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post5508574533270248991..comments2023-12-31T20:43:08.499-05:00Comments on THE STILETTO GANG: PIs, Car Chases, and Squealing BrakesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-30185416824154747302009-07-26T18:35:16.877-04:002009-07-26T18:35:16.877-04:00Yes, you certainly had the same patience those on ...Yes, you certainly had the same patience those on surveillance had!<br /><br />Although most of our non-mobile surveillances have been conducted in vans, years ago we had a surveillance (our pre-van days) when we sat in the front seat of our car to watch a particular neighborhood. We didn't like sitting so "openly" but we figured if someone asked us why we were there, we'd say we were interested in the neighborhood, its traffic patterns, etc. as we were planning on buying a house nearby.<br /><br />Sure enough, an elderly gentleman approached our car and said he'd been watching us and what were we doing there? We told him we were buying a house nearby, etc., and he ended up telling us all about the neighborhood--including information about the individual we were gathering info about (for an insurance company).Colleen Collinshttp://www.colleencollins.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-82956205040383223902009-07-26T14:40:05.531-04:002009-07-26T14:40:05.531-04:00Not currently being a PI or a detective writer, th...Not currently being a PI or a detective writer, the surveillance I've conducted, imagined or otherwise, has been largely limited to friends and family, but I remember fondly a time when my son was a few months old and I was at home in the days with him, I noticed from the balcony that someone was conducting surveillance from a car at the end of a street. For several days. And I'd watch when the relief shift came. I never just went down and asked then what or who they were watching-- ultimately it seemed to fill the days better to guess. It had something to do with a new apartment complex that had just opened, but what I don't know. But I was quite as patient as the people who were actually, presumably, being paid to sit and watch,The other onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16209715175749203176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-87047855923914911142009-07-25T22:36:32.491-04:002009-07-25T22:36:32.491-04:00Thanks to everyone else who posted comments & ...Thanks to everyone else who posted comments & mentioned the blog had some helpful info--that's our goal.<br /><br />We'll be checking in tomorrow again.<br /><br />G'night!Colleen Collinshttp://www.colleencollins.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-38138883932567245752009-07-25T22:33:15.089-04:002009-07-25T22:33:15.089-04:00Hi Broncos (our favorite team, too),
Your questio...Hi Broncos (our favorite team, too),<br /><br />Your question: >>I was curious, do you ever work for other PI's? Are there large PI outfits like the Pinkertons? Doesn't seem so, seems like PIs always work alone.<<<br /><br />Our answer: Yes, we sometimes subcontract with other PIs (and, in turn, we'll hire subcontractor-PIs to work with us). We can't think of too many large PI businesses off the top of our heads, although we know of several PI firms that have 4-6 investigators on staff. We also know a PI agency that has offices around the U.S. and they have approximately 20 PIs working for them.<br /><br />But we agree, most PIs seem to work alone.Colleen Collinshttp://www.colleencollins.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-27994765140027653942009-07-25T22:29:24.872-04:002009-07-25T22:29:24.872-04:00Hi again Sam,
In response to your question >&g...Hi again Sam,<br /><br />In response to your question >> Have you ever had to do surveillance on someone where you felt completely out of place? If so how did you handle that?<<<br /><br />Our answer: Absolutely that's happened. One of our first surveillances was in one of the worst, drug-infested, gang-ridden areas of Aurora (adjacent to Denver). Both of us were in a van doing an all-night surveillance, and it was extremely uncomfortable as that was one of the busiest, crack-dealing, prostitution-busy streets I've ever seen in my life (Shaun said outside of New York or L.A., it was the worst he's ever seen, too). We handled it by setting up the back of the van so we could lie on the floor and watch our subject's apartment (which was on the second floor).<br /><br />A funny side story: To stay awake, I was plotting a book out loud to Shaun...eventually he asked me to stop talking because I was fogging up the windows :) btw, I sold that book a few years later.Colleen Collinshttp://www.colleencollins.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-90465438040096000702009-07-25T22:23:00.697-04:002009-07-25T22:23:00.697-04:00Hi Sam,
In response to your question >>Ques...Hi Sam,<br /><br />In response to your question >>Question--while on surveillance have you seen unexpected events like a car accident or a crime? Do you report it to the police or stay on surveillance?<<<br /><br />Our answer: Yes, we've seen unexpected events. Once we saw a dog being abused and we didn't care that we broke off our surveillance--we jumped out of the van to confront the dog owner, but he saw us coming and tossed the dog into the vehicle and drove off. We got the guy's license plate number and called the police, who took off after him. Then we got back in our van and continued our surveillance...we figured there'd been enough commotion, maybe people weren't so aware of our comings and goings.<br /><br />Thanks for writing.Colleen Collinshttp://www.colleencollins.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-79345335716412654992009-07-25T22:06:16.295-04:002009-07-25T22:06:16.295-04:00This site is adorable and the motto is really clev...This site is adorable and the motto is really clever. I'm definitely going to look up the Spellman Files series. If a car chase on paper can make you laugh, I have to read it!Chellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-68857408843727611652009-07-25T19:50:37.546-04:002009-07-25T19:50:37.546-04:00I write two PI series and try to keep them realist...I write two PI series and try to keep them realistic. Thanks for some great suggestions.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chesterdcampbell.com" rel="nofollow">ChesterCampbell.com</a>Chester Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07155257451021065218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-86770875757454431992009-07-25T19:11:10.838-04:002009-07-25T19:11:10.838-04:00Thanks for the blog. I was curious, do you ever w...Thanks for the blog. I was curious, do you ever work for other PI's? Are there large PI outfits like the Pinkertons? Doesn't seem so, seems like PIs always work alone.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08974909190602833316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-72388027899640805922009-07-25T18:53:13.776-04:002009-07-25T18:53:13.776-04:00One more question about surveillance. Have you ev...One more question about surveillance. Have you ever had to do surveillance on someone where you felt completely out of place? If so how did you handle that?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14220813483152470004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-1236984462295145952009-07-25T18:51:05.880-04:002009-07-25T18:51:05.880-04:00$200 a day and expenses--I own 2 seasons of Rockfo...$200 a day and expenses--I own 2 seasons of Rockford on DVD.<br /><br />Question--while on surveillance have you seen unexpected events like a car accident or a crime? Do you report it to the police or stay on surveillance?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14220813483152470004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-6339106094944273492009-07-25T11:14:38.681-04:002009-07-25T11:14:38.681-04:00Actually, I can see a humorous situation using two...Actually, I can see a humorous situation using two cars/two sleuths. All the confusion, the unexpected traffic jams, the phone calls and texting, looking down at the phone and missing the turn. Thanks for loads of ideas!<br /><br />Hope Clark<br />FundsforWriters.comHope Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17319310910383413396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-85747298917848603502009-07-24T19:03:49.528-04:002009-07-24T19:03:49.528-04:00That chase scene in Bullitt ranks up there with th...That chase scene in Bullitt ranks up there with the best. What partner could have held his/her own against Steve McQueen? Fun to think about. Thanks for the post.Colleen Collinshttp://www.colleencollins.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1025201337316610324.post-2969467948459953672009-07-24T14:33:07.377-04:002009-07-24T14:33:07.377-04:00So you are saying that the chase in "Bullitt&...So you are saying that the chase in "Bullitt" was a tad unlikely? I always thought he should have had a partner with him.<br /><br />(Thanks for the informative post -- anyone who starts with Rockford and Isabel Spellman is someone to be listened to.)The other onehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16209715175749203176noreply@blogger.com