I want to pull back the curtain on a question I get all the time: “If you can see them through the window, why didn’t you just film it?”
Surveillance is a game of patience, ethics, and a very deep understanding of the Connecticut General Statutes. Let’s talk about a recent case that perfectly illustrates the “Ranno Way“—and why staying on the right side of the law is the only way to ensure my clients actually get the results they need.
The Setup: Connecticut Streets at 11:00 PM
I was recently perched in my surveillance vehicle on a quiet public street not far from Main Street, Anywhere, Connecticut. My client—let’s call her Sarah—suspected her husband was seeing someone else. She knew he was at a specific residence, and my job was to confirm if he was alone.
I had the perfect vantage point. From my position on a public road, I had a clear line of sight to the second-story bedroom window. The curtains weren’t drawn, and the lights were on. I could see Sarah’s husband. I could also see a woman who definitely wasn’t Sarah.
In the movies, the investigator grabs a long-lens camera, hits record, and the case is closed. But in the real world—specifically in Connecticut—that’s where things get complicated.
The Law: The “Reasonable Expectation of Privacy”
Here in Connecticut, we follow C.G.S. § 53a-189a, which covers Voyeurism. The law is very clear: You cannot record or take pictures of another person without their consent in a place where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.Even though I was sitting on a public street—where I have every right to be and every right to look—the moment I point a camera into someone’s bedroom, I am entering a legal minefield. A bedroom is the ultimate “private” space. Even if the husband was “careless” enough to leave the blinds open, the law generally holds that he still has a right to privacy within those four walls.If I were to record that encounter, I wouldn’t just be a private investigator anymore; I’d be a felon. A Voyeurism charge in CT is a Class D Felony. Not only would I lose my license and my freedom, but that video would be completely inadmissible in a divorce or custody hearing. It would be “fruit of the poisonous tree.”So, if I can’t record, how do I help Sarah? This is where professional experience beats a GoPro every time.
1. The Power of the Detailed Log
In the eyes of the court, a licensed Private Investigator is a professional witness. While I didn’t hit “record” on the camera, I was “recording” every detail in my surveillance log.
23:14: Subject (Husband) observed entering bedroom.
23:16: Unidentified Female (UF) enters frame; Subject and UF engage in intimate contact.
23:45: Lights extinguished; Subject remains in residence.
This log, backed by my testimony as a licensed professional, holds significant weight. I am describing what is in plain view from a public vantage point. I am using my eyes, not a digital sensor that violates privacy statutes.
2. Contextual Documentation
I can—and did—take photos of the house from the street, the husband’s car in the driveway, and the husband entering and exiting the front door. These photos establish “opportunity.” They prove he was there, at that time, with that person. I document the exterior environment to corroborate my presence and the subject’s location.
3. The “Plain View” Observation
Because I am on a public street, my eyes are allowed to be there. If I see something through a window while standing on public property, I can report that observation to my client. I am the “human camera.” By relaying the facts of what I saw, I provide Sarah with the truth she needs to make decisions about her marriage without exposing her to the legal blowback of an illegally obtained video.
Why You Need a Pro
It’s tempting for a jilted spouse to try and do this themselves. They think, “It’s my husband, and I’m on a public street, so I’ll just record it on my iPhone.”
Don’t do it.
If you record someone in a bedroom through a window in Connecticut, you are the one who might end up in handcuffs at the Middletown Police Department.
You risk a felony charge, a protective order being served against you, and losing leverage in your legal proceedings.
At Ranno Investigative Services, my goal is to give you peace of mind and actionable intelligence. I know exactly where the line is between “thorough investigation” and “criminal voyeurism.” I provide you with a comprehensive, professional report that details the truth, gathered legally, so it can actually be used to protect your interests.
The Outcome
In Sarah’s case, my detailed report and the photos of her husband’s car at the residence for six hours (including the time the bedroom lights went out) were more than enough for her attorney to move forward. We got the truth without breaking the law.
If you’re in Middletown or anywhere in Connecticut and you need to know the truth, give me a call. We’ll get the answers you need—the right way.
Investigator Ranno
Ranno Investigative Services, Middletown, CT
