What to Expect on the Night of the Investigation
- Arrival: The STLGH team will arrive at your location at the prearranged time, typically around 9pm. Depending on the size of the location, STLGH will bring 4-6 investigators. We typically have 2-3 unmarked personal vehicles. Please alert us ahead of time if parking will be limited.
- Tour: We ask that you are prepared to give the Lead Investigators a detailed tour of the site and highlight the places where activity occurs to help us determine camera placements. At this time we ask that you alert us to any potential hazards, restricted areas and any objects or surfaces which you prefer we not use to secure our equipment with painters tape. During this time, the rest of the team will begin unloading our equipment.
- Equipment Setup: The Lead Investigators will brief the team and begin setup. During this time, we will meet with you to finalize our Permission to Investigate & Liability Waiver and our Client Confidentiality forms. You may wish to visit our website ahead of time and consider whether you would like us to publish information on your case. We ask that you be available to answer questions as needed. Equipment setup typically takes 60-90 minutes, depending on the size of the location.
- Lights Out: The “lights out” portion of the investigation typically begins between 10:30pm and midnight and ends between 3:30am and 4:30am, depending on activity. At all times while the investigation is in progress, we ask that all clients/family members/pets remain quietly at the designated “base camp.” To maintain the integrity of the evidence collected, investigators are not permitted to talk to you about their personal experiences, suspicions or findings during the investigation. However, during break times investigators will be happy to answer questions about our past experiences, equipment and investigation methods.
- Breaks: We typically take two or three breaks throughout the night and we’ll bring our own snacks and drinks to help us recharge. We love talking to clients during our breaks! Break times are also the best times for you to use the bathroom or kitchen and to move around yourself, but don’t forget that the cameras and audio recorders will still be running in the areas under surveillance! We have unexpectedly caught EVPs and video evidence during break times in the past so we recommend limiting movement as much as possible.
- Breakdown: At the end of the investigation we’ll turn on the lights, pack up our equipment and say goodbye. Packing up typically takes about 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the location.
