| You arrive home. You open your mailbox, reach | | | | Microdrone! Measuring just two feet from rotor |
| inside and remove a mishmash of envelopes, fliers | | | | blade to rotor blade, this remote-controlled |
| and periodicals. After turning the key to your | | | | helicopter contains a hidden spy camera. How |
| front door, you walk inside your house, sifting | | | | does it work? Along with two landing skis and the |
| through the mail as you do so. There is a letter | | | | rotors, four short, thick arms carry a hidden spy |
| from your aunt Gertrude in Saskatchewan. There | | | | camera. After flying above crime scenes, the |
| is a newsletter from your Book-of-the-Month | | | | Microdrone transmits its recordings to bobbies, or |
| Club. There is also an ad for a hybrid espresso | | | | police officers, on land. Some citizens are already |
| machine-vacuum cleaner appliance. Suddenly, one | | | | uneasy about the prevalence of hidden spy |
| of the envelopes - from the local county council - | | | | cameras in the U.K. However, local U.K police |
| catches your eye. Using a letter opener, you slice | | | | authorities argue that the public generally supports |
| open the envelope and remove the paper | | | | the cameras, as these provide them a "feeling of |
| contained inside. You read it, and then gasp in | | | | safety." They hope that the new machine will |
| amazement. You are to pay a fine of $2,000 U.S. | | | | complement their CCTV patrol vans and manned |
| dollars! Your crime: putting out your garbage bin at | | | | helicopters. Be Like Bobby According to a |
| the wrong time. Does this sound impossible? Not | | | | 1998-2000 United Nations study, the U.K. ranked |
| at all. Today, a local government in England is using | | | | sixth in the world in terms of least crimes per |
| a special hidden spy camera to catch offenders | | | | 1,000 people. Such outstanding results show that |
| of the new garbage collection rule. Seeing-eye | | | | using hidden spy cameras in your own home could |
| Bags An interesting development in the realm of | | | | help in your personal mission of crime prevention. |
| hidden spy cameras has sprung up in the U.K. In | | | | The first step in preventing a burglary in your |
| one county, local councils are using the cameras | | | | home is to secure all entry points with locks, and |
| to control when and where people put their | | | | preferably, deadbolts. Entry points to consider |
| garbage outside, for collection. One county has | | | | include the: * front door * garage door * gate * |
| purchased a hidden spy camera costing thousands | | | | guest house door * patio door * rear door * |
| of U.S. dollars. This hidden spy camera can be | | | | service door * sliding glass door * swimming pool |
| placed in a garbage bag sitting in an alley. The | | | | gate While the costs alone would make it difficult |
| camera will then spot homeowners who put out | | | | to place a hidden spy camera at every entry |
| their garbage too late or too early. It will also | | | | point, it would certainly be wise to place one at |
| catch residents who place their garbage in a | | | | the front and back doors. In countries such as the |
| nearby alley, instead of alongside the street in | | | | U.K, the hidden spy camera has changed the way |
| front of their homes. The main concern is that | | | | law enforcement is done. Though your occupation |
| uncollected garbage will attract all kinds of | | | | might not put you on "the beat," using such |
| annoying bugs. Local officials also hope that the | | | | cameras can help to keep dodgy blokes off the |
| hidden spy cameras will not only catch | | | | streets and behind bars! |
| "envirocrime" culprits, but also drug dealers, graffiti | | | | Yes, you need home surveillance like you need |
| artists, and illegal garbage dumpers--referred to as | | | | social security. Brush up on tools for home video |
| fly-tippers. Copters for Coppers Not to be | | | | security, such as the nanny cam, by visiting our |
| outdone by county councilmen, the British police | | | | site now! |
| have a new weapon to fight crime. Meet the | | | | |