Welcome to the
"Co-veillance" Section
of
Doktor Jons

Guide to Closed Circuit TV (CCTV)

So would you like to play "Spot the CCTV Camera?". Eagle eyed visitors may recognise the profusion of street furniture, surrounding a single heritage dome camera keeping watch over part  of Londons' prestigious Oxford Street shopping area.


So how exactly do you hide a camera?

In practice, there are essentially three basic techniques for using hidden CCTV cameras; namely, PCB cameras fitted into everyday objects, localised cameras fitted with pinhole lenses, and distant viewing cameras mounted in discreet housings.

In most situations, it's the operating environment which dictates how it can best be hidden, without adversely affecting the surroundings.

Generally speaking, the problems are further compounded by the two main applications.

Firstly, some covert operations are essentially short term, perhaps lasting no more than a few hours; these might be situations such as video recording interviews or meetings, monitoring the behaviour of a suspect childminder, or monitoring lockers or baggage for the attentions of a known suspect.

In these situations, it is common to use miniature cameras, often secreted inside an everyday object such as a smoke detector or wall clock, or alternatively placed in a bag or suitcase along with either a miniature video recorder, or alternatiuvely a low power output video transmitter.

Given that the equipment is only required to operate for a matter of a few minutes or hours, battery supplied power is often the cheapest and most convenient option; although any appropriate mains powered equipment (disguises) can often also be successfully installed without arousing any suspicion.

With one recent problem where a persistant thief was stealing cash from the inside of a ‘one arm bandit’ slot machine, Doktor Jon advised the client on how to fit a miniature CCTV camera with a transmitter inside the machine, so that when the cash box is removed by the thief, their is no way that they could have
prevented themselves from being caught ‘face on’ to the camera.

The CCTV equipment was of course, powered up from the existing mains supply inside the unit, so their were no problems with having to constantly change batteries.


Continued>

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