Lesson 7 of 12

The Gold Rule: Continuity

Dramatic overhead CCTV security camera angle looking down a retail store aisle, a person partially hidden behind a tall display shelving unit, one section of aisle completely obscured, moody realistic security footage aesthetic

The Gold Rule

If you lose sight of the subject — even for 10 seconds — the arrest is void.

What Is Continuity?

Continuity means maintaining unbroken visual contact with a subject from the moment of concealment (Step 3) through to the point of arrest (after Step 5).

If you lose sight of the subject — even for a moment — you can no longer prove the concealed item is still on their person. The item could have been dropped, returned to a shelf, or handed to an accomplice during those seconds you were not watching.

Without proof the item is still on the subject at the moment of arrest, you have no legal grounds to detain them.

Two-panel comparison image: left panel shows a clear unobstructed security camera sightline down a clean retail aisle with a green visual indicator, right panel shows the same aisle now blocked by a tall freestanding shelving display casting a visual blind spot with a red indicator, realistic CCTV-style look