Historical clue formulations

• Extended form of surveillance — 2023-10-25
• Police operation requiring patience — 2023-04-09
• Police operation ... or, when read another way, what a grammarian would like to do to 18-, 24-, 52- and 65-Across? — 2017-03-27
• Watch, as a criminals' hiding spot — 2017-03-05
• Plan to catch a criminal — 2009-02-06
• Police action — 2004-11-21