Surveillance answers a defined question by documenting what a person, place, or activity looks like over time. Counter surveillance asks the reverse: whether someone may be watching you, your home, or your routine without your knowledge. Personal Protection Solutions provides both, using lawful methods and reports that separate what was observed from what remains uncertain.
These assignments are run by our investigative services team and draw on the same advance work our agents perform on protective details. PPS is veteran-owned, based in the Baltimore area, and supports clients across Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and the wider Mid-Atlantic.
Surveillance Services
Surveillance supports decisions that need facts rather than assumptions. Common assignments include:
- Documenting after-hours activity around a loading dock, warehouse, or construction site
- Observing activity tied to an insurance claim, workers’ compensation matter, or civil case at an attorney’s request
- Watching a location connected to suspected theft or policy violations
- Confirming a pattern before a client changes security staffing or access controls
Our investigators record dates, times, locations, and the limits of each observation period. One sighting rarely establishes a pattern, so findings are compared against other reliable information before any conclusion is drawn.
Counter Surveillance Services
Counter surveillance protects people whose movements may interest others: executives heading into a sensitive negotiation, public figures, high-net-worth families, and individuals dealing with persistent unwanted attention. Warning signs include the same vehicle or person appearing at different locations, private schedule details becoming known to outsiders, or unexplained interest in a residence or office.
Route and routine analysis
Predictable travel between a home, office, school, and gym gives an observer easy opportunities. We assess how exposed a routine is and recommend practical changes, often alongside our executive protection and transportation services.
Residence and venue assessments
We review sight lines, camera coverage gaps, and access points around a home, private event, or meeting location. Findings can feed directly into estate security planning for residences that need a long-term plan.
Protective counter surveillance during details
When PPS provides close protection for high-net-worth clients, agents can watch for signs of hostile surveillance around the client in real time, adding early warning without disrupting the client’s day.
Lawful Methods and Clear Reporting
Recording private conversations, tracking a vehicle without consent, accessing accounts, or entering private property can violate federal and state law, and we do not use those methods. Rules differ by state. In Maryland, for example, private detectives are certified through the Maryland State Police Licensing Division. We confirm permissible methods for your location before work begins.
You choose how updates are delivered. Some clients want short field updates during an active assignment, while others prefer one detailed timeline at the end. For more on what investigators can and cannot do, read whether you can legally hire a private investigator.
Why Choose Personal Protection Solutions
Our founder, Christopher Quirk, is a U.S. Army veteran with 18 years of service and more than 500 executive protection details. That protective experience means our team knows what hostile surveillance looks like and how to spot it. You work with a dedicated point of contact, can reach us 24/7 for urgent concerns, and receive pricing that is typically lower than large national firms.
Surveillance and Counter Surveillance FAQs
Surveillance documents activity connected to a defined question, such as who is accessing a site after hours. Counter surveillance looks for signs that you, your property, or your routine are being watched. Many clients need both: counter surveillance identifies a concern, and surveillance documents it so you can decide on next steps with confidence.
Not without a legal basis. Recording and tracking laws differ by state, and many methods require consent from the people involved. We review the lawful options for your location before any work begins and will tell you plainly if a request falls outside what an investigator is permitted to do.
Yes. An assignment may find no relevant activity during the observation period, and we report that plainly. We also explain the limits of that result, such as the hours and locations covered, so you can decide whether more observation is worthwhile rather than assuming the concern is resolved.
Yes, when you are authorized to share the footage. We review camera placement, image quality, and retention periods, since many systems overwrite recordings within days. Contact us early so useful footage is preserved, and we can recommend coverage changes if gaps appear during the review.
It depends on the question, the location, and how often the activity occurs. Some assignments need a few days of observation, while others need intermittent coverage over several weeks. We propose a schedule and budget during the consultation and revisit it with you if new facts change the scope.