Listening devices, a tool to help everyone prevent crime

In Italy, a bill that is being passed in the current monthsrecorder, in order to store the transmissions on a digital
allows common citizens to give their contribution tosupport.
public order and security, for example by legalizingA listening device of the latest generation can also be
street patrolling by private institutions. Without goingequipped with a voice activation system, which would
that far, one can prevent street crime on hisonly start transmitting when the sensor detects sounds
workplace, thanks to modern surveillance technology,or voices, thus saving in battery life, and optimizing the
for example by using miniaturized listening devices.performance of the entire surveillance operation. Such
This happened, for example, to a factory in my region.bugs can be powered by lithium-ion batteries or
The director noticed that since a while, someconnected directly to the mains.
strange-looking people were occasionally wanderingThere are also other listening devices, the so-called
within the factory compound. This was mostlyGSM bugs, which are equipped with a SIM card just
happening during lunch breaks or on shift changes. Helike the one you have on your mobile phone, which can
was puzzled, so he started a discreet internal inquiry,be used to transmit the eavesdropped conversations
and found out that these strange guys were comingat any distance, simply by automatically placing a
to the factory, looking for a couple of workers whophone call towards a preset number. The call receiver
would leave their post for a while, go out in the yardcan be anywhere, and no matter how far he will still be
and come back after a few minutes, and the visitorsin touch with the person, or place, that he has under
would leave. This was happening at least 2 or 3 timessurveillance.
a day.In our specific case, the director only had to wait a
The town is certainly not a metropolis, so a fewfew days after having installed his bugs, and he
questions in the neighborhood allowed him to ascertaindiscovered that in fact, the premises of his factory
that these guys were small-time pushers who werewere being used by a couple of workers to run a drug
running their dirty business in town. At this point, he wastrafficking business, and the two guys were selling
understandably very concerned, and to make suredrugs to local pushers. The conversations
that his fears were true, without raising any suspicionseavesdropped were recorded on CDs, of which he
and avoiding any possible repercussion, he decided tomade several copies that were sent to a few police
act on his own without informing the police at thatprecincts in the region, thus making sure that at least
stage.one of them would act, and also keeping his privacy to
After a brief Internet search, through some specializedavoid any possible reprisals.
online spy shops which are trading in spy equipmentIn such situations, it is advisable that an individual takes
and audio/video surveillance devices, he decided toaction, of course within the boundaries of law, in the
plant a few listening devices, miniaturized microphonesinterest not only of his company, but also of public
and video bugs inside the factory and in the yard. Itsecurity and order. Naturally, he should not take the
was an array of small devices, concealed withinplace that our legislation assigns to law enforcement
electricity boxes, vents, or even inside small objects(also to avoid exposing himself to dangers), but he will
such as a table calculator or a desk lamp.just provide a valuable help and support to the
These environmental micro transmitters are equippedinstitutions, helping investigations.
with extra sensitive microphones and miniaturized radioFor more information about different types of listening
transmitting devices, capable of picking updevices, hidden microphones, GSM bugs and so on,
conversations and sounds with extreme clarity ofyou can visit Endoacustica, one of the largest
sound, transmitting them via radio at a distance rangingoperators in this highly skilled field, working for your
up to a few hundred meters, towards a radio receivingsecurity and privacy since several years.
station which is generally connected to a digital