Basic SDR on Foot

The true test of a low visibility profile is whether it holds up when you suspect you are being watched. This is where a Surveillance Detection Route (SDR) comes in. SDRs are planned movements designed to subtly force a follower to expose themselves. They turn your passive awareness into an active check. You don't need a team of operatives or high-tech gear to do this on foot, you just need to be deliberate and look natural.

Every basic SDR relies on three key elements to isolate a potential follower from the general public: time, distance, and change of direction.

• Length of time: Most people have short, predictable travel times. If someone is tracking you for an unusually long period, say 20 to 30 minutes, they're likely dedicated to following you.
• Distance traveled: if you travel a long distance and the same person or vehicle consistently remains within your vicinity, that's a flag. The longer the distance, the less likely it is coincidence.
• Change of direction: this is the most powerful element. Every time you change your route unexpectedly, you eliminate the people who just happened to be going the same way. A true follower has to change direction to match yours.

Basic SDR Tactics for the Pedestrian

You want to conduct maneuvers that are provocative to a follower but perfectly natural to a casual observer. Here are a few simple ways to incorporate these detection elements into your movements.

The Reflection Check

This is your most subtle tool. Use shop windows, glass doors, and even the side mirrors of parked cars to discreetly scan the area behind you. You can see who is walking on the sidewalk behind you without having to turn your head. Pause briefly to look at a menu or check your phone, then use the reflection while you wait.

The Accidental Double Back

This maneuver forces a follower to either turn around awkwardly or pass you and risk losing you. Walk past a convenient stop point, say, a coffee shop or a book store. Take three or four steps past it, then stop and perform a sudden natural reversal by quickly saying "Oh, I forgot that book" and walking back to the entrance. Watch for anyone who suddenly stops or also reverses their course.

The Stair-Step Turn

This is a classic SDR move. Choose a path that involves a series of sequential, sudden, alternating left and right turns through a grid of streets. If a vehicle or person is still behind you after three or four unexpected turns that take you significantly off a main through-route, they are likely tracking you. Follow this maneuver immediately with a logical stop, like stepping into a lobby or waiting at a transit stop, to force them to linger or pass you.

The Multi-Exit Building

Enter a public building that has multiple exits, such as a mall, a transit station, or a large public library. Walk in one door, then quickly exit through a different door on the opposite side. A follower has to commit to which exit you'll use, and by choosing the unexpected one, you can watch their reaction or shake them entirely.

The key to all of these techniques is staying calm and acting with purpose. If you look paranoid or hesitant, you risk drawing more attention. When you plan a SDR and practice these simple movements, you transition from a passive target into an aware and active controller of your own security.