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Scouting:
Study the site of the action and
keep up with changes
Before the action, study the area carefully.
Chart safe routes in and out; look for
hiding places, obstacles, potential targets,
and surveillance cameras (including those
in ATMs and stoplights). Note how long it
takes to travel key distances, and be aware
of the visibility from and of key locations.
How close are the authorities, how long will
it take them to arrive? Can their approach
be delayed? Who else is in the area?
While scouting, be careful not to call
attention to yourself or leave an obvious
record of your passing. Be sure to do at
least some of your scouting at the same
time of day as the planned action, and if
possible do a quick check immediately before
it to make sure nothing has changed.
If your action calls for daunting tasks,
such as climbing a steep rooftop, it may
be good to make an actual practice run at
some point.
Information can also be gathered from
photos, maps, and brochures; aerial maps
may be available on the internet. In some
cases you can obtain information from a
tourist center, or call and ask questions on
a pretext (as a student doing a report, for example),
or even receive a guided tour. Once
you’ve collected a lot of information, it can
be helpful to consolidate the important parts
into a map suited to your needs. Be careful
to dispose of all your paperwork securely.