Technical Solutions Unlimited

A CASE STUDY IN INDUSTRIAL ESPIONAGE!

This case study relates to a firm of Land/Property developers operating in a new suite of offices on a small industrial estate on the edge of a rural town in the North West of England. The property was secured to modern standards and had a good intruder alarm system fitted.

This Company regularly dealt with multi-million pound land deals and conducted highly sensitive discussions and negotiations in the boardroom and several key offices.

Several unexplained alarm activations were experienced with no apparent signs of any break in or attempted break in. These were put down to faults on the system and when they stopped no more was thought of it.

A short time later a small black box with a wire attached was found on the floor under a radiator in the boardroom. It appeared to have been stuck to the inside of the radiator using double sided sticky pads. The sticky pads seemed to have failed due to heat from the radiator.

Upon examination this "black box" was found to be a UHF radio microphone (commonly known as a "bug") having a self contained battery.
The battery was flat but subsequent test showed that the "bug" had a range of approximately 800 Metres and would transmit for five days on one battery. Transmissions could be received on a purpose made receiver or a radio scanner tuned to the correct frequency.

Sweeps and searches of the property found two other devices. Both were concealed inside mains double sockets secured to the walls in two different offices. These devices were also UHF with a 500 Metre range but were powered directly from the mains supply and were transmitting permanently.

The sockets were removed and replaced with 'normal' sockets, of the same make, made to look identical to the "bugged" ones (small hole drilled in bottom edge). A covert video camera was then installed in the Managing Directors office to observe the replaced socket.

The company had by this time identified several "suspects" who might benefit from placing such devices and these 'suspects' were invited in to business meetings with the Managing director. During each meeting the MD left the suspects alone in his office for several minutes and their behaviour was monitored in a nearby room.

On one occasion the person left alone was seen to touch and inspect the replaced socket and even tapped it several times.

The police arrested this suspect, and whilst in custody his house and vehicle were searched. Audiocassette tapes were found in his car boot and in his bedroom wardrobe. All the tapes contained recordings of meetings and conversations identified as having been made within the "bugged" boardroom or the other two "bugged" offices.

All the devices were identified as having come from a shop in London specialising in the sale of surveillance equipment. This shop had a Court Order served on it and the owner reluctantly produced orders & invoices for the three devices (and receiving/recording equipment) made out in the name of the suspects company. They cost several hundred pounds each.

Throughout interview the suspect denied having anything to do with placing the devices or any knowledge of the tapes found in his car and bedroom.

The suspect's defence was that he was completely innocent and that he had been 'set up' by the Land Developers in an attempt to discredit him.

Bizarrely, in spite of the overwhelming evidence against him, the jury found the suspect 'Not Guilty' on all counts.

© 2006 Dave Burrows Technical Solutions Unlimited.

APPENDIX.

The laws of supply & demand suggest that this type of equipment is being bought and used in great numbers.
Below printed from the Internet: -
High powered room transmitter (pictured above left)
Miniature UHF room transmitter
This powerful little transmitter has a 5 day battery life and can be concealed almost anywhere. It will pick up the slightest whisper from up to 40 feet away and transmit to our UHF receiver or scanner with amazing clarity up to a distance of 800 metres. This bug is perfect for monitoring any room, office etc.

Double socket transmitter:
This is a fully functional mains double socket but concealed inside is a hidden transmitter that will pick up all conversations and transmit up to 500 metres away.