One thing that Hurricane Katrina taught us is that it is not enough to plan for the immediate disaster – survivors must also have enough reserves of whatever they need to get them through until the situation normalizes, or until they can be rescued and moved to a stable situation.

Even if you are not in a hurricane zone, having reserves of necessary items is a good idea. There is no part of the world that is immune from disaster, be it hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood, ice and snowstorms, volcanoes or even man-made problems. Although being able to survive and come out of such disasters intact is sometimes a matter of luck, being prepared to outlast the immediate danger can make the difference between coming out alive or not coming out at all.

Here are some steps you can take ahead of time to prepare you and your family to ride out long-term effects of whatever life throws your way:

• Always maintain a reserve of non-perishable food, toiletries, medications and other necessities. Buying in bulk on a regular basis is the easiest way to do this – not only does it provide a cushion during a crisis, but it also keeps you from running out in the normal course of things and is usually a money-saver, to boot. And don’t forget your transportation! Here’s a trick that I’ve found works well – use the half-tank tick on your gas gauge as a psychological “empty.” Never let it get below that level – it doesn’t cost any more than filling it up the normal way, and you never have to face a trip around town (or a sudden disaster) wondering if you have enough gas to make it.  
• Set up a “bug-out” kit (see this article for details) ready-packed with important papers and emergency food/supplies for quick and easy survival support in an emergency situation.  
• Set up a liquid savings account or fund just for emergencies, preferably in a bank with many national branches, or online with a financial service like PayPal, in case your local branch goes down for the count. Keep your account information handy, either somewhere physically convenient or in an online storage system such as a web-based email account where you can easily access it from anywhere. Keep enough money in this account to get you through at least a few weeks of no-income emergency living, including food, shelter and medications.  
• If possible, keep $20-50 in cash in a safe, but easily reachable, place for immediate use in the case of an emergency – I recommend keeping it in your bug-out kit with the rest of your emergency supplies.  
• Learn to maintain a physical and emotional reserve, as well. Regular meditation, good health practices, and well-honed anger/frustration management skills will make your life infinitely easier in normal times and allow you to cope more effectively when your life is turned upside down.

Disasters like Hurricane Katrina are heart-wrenching and frightening, even to those not directly affected. It’s sometimes hard to see how anyone can survive such a violent uprooting. However, maintaining a stable reserve of necessary items and attitudes can keep you prepared to survive and overcome anything that man or nature throws in your direction.

It is a well-known fact, that satisfactory lighting is a very valuable deterrent to crime. Whatever lighting might help reduce your risk of becoming a victim, the right lights, utilized properly will be the effective deterrent to burglars and other intruders and improve your home security.

Exterior:

Outside lights are critically important, especially near doorways and at the rear of your residence, where break-ins typically occur. All round security lighting that is set-up high out of reach, and is tamper proof, will greatly improve your home security and help to protect your home.

Lighting in carports and garages is critical. An automatic garage opener is the best choice. All the best garage door opener fitted today use a light that operates when the opener is activated, lighting the garage interior. In carports, it’s best to leave a light on permanently, have a light on a timer, or use a motion sensor to activate the light.

It is best to use a motion detector on all exterior lights that are not left switched on. The principal benefit of this for home security, especially in the backyard, is that the light warns you that someone is in your yard. When there can be some problem that dogs, cats, or even birds will trigger off the sensor and cause the lights to come on, if you set the sensitivity of the sensor right this will not be a issue. In the front yard, any type of lighting will be efficient, but make sure that the lighting design covers the entire front and sides of the home. Sensors can be utilized however they will be prone to “false alarms” induced by things like people walking down the sidewalk, or also kids playing.

Inside:

Whenever you go out for the evening, I suppose that like most people you leave a light on, the Police call these lights “burglar beacons”. A burglar beacon is a single light that is left on so you do not return to a dark home when you get back.

Regrettably these lights are a sign for the burglar that you are out. When you go out for the evening or away on holiday make certain several lights are left on, in different parts of the home, and furthermore a radio, put them on timers, from the exterior your house should look as if someone is home at all times to improve your home security.

That’s it for this time; in the next article we will look at sorting out the doors on your home.

What do alarm systems and automobile tires have in common? This may sound like a strange question to the untrained ear, but lend me yours and I will make sense of it.

The reason I mention car tires is that they are a necessity that most all of us have some experience purchasing, at least once in a while.

Even though we need good tires to keep our cars firmly on the road, when they are wearing out we often put the purchase off for a few weeks. If we are patient, a Saturday will eventually come along that we have no plans for, and we force ourselves to go to our local tire store.

Maybe it’s the one with the big giant marshmallow looking thing on the roof, or the shop down the road who seems to be giving away free franks, and has a racing car crew serving them, that gets us to stop.

If you are jumping the gun and think I’m correlating putting off the purchase of a necessity such as car tires with a necessity such as an alarm system you would be wrong. The first reason you would be wrong is because most people don’t see an alarm as a necessity, but as a luxury. Only after they have been burglarized, do they see an addition of an alarm system as something they need instead of want.

Do you know why they realize after the fact that they need one? Not just because they are upset that someone took the electronics. Not just because the gun that they considered the only alarm system they would ever need is missing, and god only knows whose hands it will end up in. Not even because they are freaked out knowing that some stranger was rifling through the underwear drawer. It is because this is the first time most people start to think about how this unfortunate event could have effected the lives of their loved ones and themselves, if they had been home or walked in on a burglary in progress.

What if my wife came home for lunch and walked in on them?

What if I came home from work and had my own gun pointed at me when I came in?

What if we were asleep while they entered, and how would that traumatize the family?

After asking ourselves these types of questions is when an alarm system becomes a necessity.

Assuming you do know that you need and want a system as part of your preventative security plan, and you do have researching one on your to do list, let’s consider how else an alarm system might have something in common with automobile tires.

When we go to buy our tires we often tell the salesman what size tire we need or what make and model our car is. They go to the computer screen and tell you “we have the Big Brand XTC 10’s for $45.00 each plus mounting and balancing” or “ The Joe Blows are really made by the same company and they are $5.00 less each” (Sound familiar?)

How often does the salesperson, take the time to explain things that are so important to your decision such as Load Range, Tread Wear, Rubber Composites, Tread Patterns and the Elements, Sidewall Strength, Speed Ratings, etc. If they did, you would not only know much more than you already do about tires, but you would most likely justify your choices and the expense with life- safety, as you should. You will also most likely buy your tires at that store the next time you need them, no matter what they are giving away down the street.

Would you believe that alarm systems are often sold the same way tires are.” We have, this one or that one, which do you prefer?” When making an important decision such as how a security system will fit into your lifestyle, please take the time to understand all of your options. The available differences in quality of all the devices you are considering for purchase is astounding, and will make a big difference in how happy you are with your choices. If you can’t find someone to explain all of these things to you, then you have not found the proverbial “perfect tire store”

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” that saying is as true for crime, as it is for health. After taking literally thousands of reports over the years I spent as a police officer; I found that a lot of crimes that had happened could have been prevented. The easiest and most effective way of dealing with crime is not be a victim of it in the first place. This is easier said then done, and no matter how cautious you are you can still be a victim. Nothing will give you a 100% guarantee; however, there are things you can do to at least limit your odds of being a victim. But first; you have to know what you are preventing yourself from, in order to know how to prevent against it. This article will in general show you some of the common criminal types, and give some suggestions on how to avoid them. I have made up my own classifications for these people based upon my experience as a police officer.

Passive thieves:

Passive thieves are those who steal but are not aggressive towards their victims. They prefer their victims not to be around. These people usually are the ones who will break into your car, home, business etc. They are impulsive and really do not think much about the penalties they will face if they get caught. Sometimes they pre plan to do a crime, but other times they see an opportunity and go for it. For example: a thief is walking through a parking lot and sees a laptop sitting on the front seat of a unoccupied vehicle. Next thing you know the window is smashed and the laptop is gone.

Now the thief didn’t preplan to take the laptop, or to target that particular vehicle. They just saw an opportunity and went for it, without even thinking for a second about who the victim is, or what will happen to them if they get caught. Some of the common items they steal are cash, checks, credit cards, purses, laptops, or if they break into your home they will also target: desktop computers, TV’s, VCR’s, DVD player, tools, jewelry, basically anything they think they can turn into cash. These types of criminals are some of the easiest to deal with from a preventative nature. Because they are always looking for an easy opportunity, your best defense is not to give them one. Some of the common things people (potential victims) inadvertently do which create easy opportunities are listed below.

• Leaving their keys in the car
• Leaving the house unlocked
• Leaving the car unlocked
• Making it obvious that they are gone for an extended period of time.
• Leaving valuables in the car that are in plain view
• Leaving their vehicle running while unattended
• Leaving their purse in the shopping cart while shopping

These are just a few examples to give you the general idea. In my book “Crime Awareness 101” I cover the above bulleted items in much greater detail. I also break down 11 specific crimes and give more preventive tips, and I include what to do after the fact.

Aggressive thieves:

These types of criminals are much more dangerous and much harder to prevent against. They mostly focus on doing armed robberies, and expect their victims to be there. They are violent in nature and very unpredictable. They care nothing about the victim, and lately it appears that they are more then willing to kill. The do pre plan their crimes somewhat but not usually very well, their main tool of control is their intimidation, and the weapon they carry. Even without a weapon they can be dangerous and will fight ferociously. They usually wont stay around long if they are just robbing a business, or an individual on the street. However; if they take the victim somewhere or get into get them in a insolated area, then the crime may turn to rape, aggravated assault, or murder. Here are some activities which may invite this type of problem.

• Not being aware of you surroundings
• Being alone late at night, or in unsafe areas
• Displaying large amounts of cash or valuables
• Working at convenience stores, or gas stations.
• Letting people in your home that you do not know.

In my book “Crime Awareness 101” I give detailed explanations about the above bullets, and what to do about it.

Passive Assaulters:

These are your date rape type. They are not actively aggressive however they are sneakier. They preplan their attacks, or take advantage of someone who has put themselves in a vulnerable position ( for example someone who is passed out from intoxication or drug use). They will appear to be your friend and then slip something in your drink (date rape drug) to knock you out, where they can then take advantage of you. The unfaithful business traveler can also fall victim to these criminals. Only this time it will be an attractive female who acts as if she is attracted to him. When they get alone she will slip something in his drink to knock him out and then rob him. Usually the unfaithful business traveler is too embarrassed to report this type of crime so you don’t hear about it much. The date rape criminal is the one you need to be concerned about. In my book “Crime Awareness 101” I give a complete explanation on date rape and what to look for including the following topics:

• Potential date rapist behavioral signs that should raise a red flag
• Circumstances that are favorable to this crime and how to avoid them
• Preventative tips for both rape and date rape
• Suggestions of what to do when confronted with a rapist

Alcohol induced troublemakers:

These types of people are normally pretty descent people, but when they drink they become a monster. We had one person who was huge, strong as an ox, and when he drank look out it was going to be fight night. We would always have to wrestle with him, once we had him cuffed and in the back seat of the car. He would sit and smash his head against the plastic divider so hard that he would cut it open, and then off to the hospital we would go. Once he got into a cell he would do the same thing against the cell wall cutting his head open and again off to the hospital we would go. Usually arresting him meant a fight, two trips to the hospital, and having at least three officers tied up for hours. Yet when he was sober he was the nicest guy, alcohol just made him extremely violent. Of course he mixed a few drugs in there too, but alcohol was the main cause for his violence. You will encounter these types at the bar, sporting events, large parties, and unfortunately sometimes weddings. The best defense against these types is just stay clear of them, and don’t get into any confrontations with them.

Silent Assaulters:

These are typically your domestic violence types. They are outwardly pretty meek and mild, where most people that know them outside of the home would never think they are domestic abusers; however, inside the home structure they are very controlling, and that control is enforced through physical assaults and psychological degradation. I remember one incident where a woman was severely beaten by her live in boyfriend. She was surprised that she ever got into this situation. She stated that she was an educated professional woman, and her abuser was a well educated man making a six figure income. According to her, he is kind off a geek that nobody would give a second thought of as far as being a threat. However, he beat her so badly that she was hospitalized with a closed head injury. It’s very important to really know the person you are getting involved with. Many times red flags will appear early in the relationship that are signs that the person could be a domestic abuser. I have written a complete section on domestic violence which is covered in my book “Crime Awareness 101.” In that section I talk about what to look for, preventative measures to take, the cycle of violence, plus what to do when you are a victim. I also list numerous support groups and other resources.

Thinkers:

These are criminals who are better known as con artists. They pre plan their scams and are usually very good at them. They are normally non violent, very good at getting your trust, and talking their way out of situations. They offer free trips, discounted services, money, etc… whatever they offer its just front to get you interested, in the end they are going to take your money. They may also pose as your Medical Insurance carrier, Bank, Credit Card Company, etc, and con you into telling them your personal information. These con artists attempt their scams in person, over the phone, and through the internet. In my book “Crime Awareness 101” I wrote a chapter on scams which list some of the more common scams and what to look out for.

According to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, the East Pacific expects 15 to 16 tropical storms. Nine of these end up becoming hurricanes with five becoming deadly major hurricanes. If you live in the southeastern part of the U.S. then you know that hurricane season started on June 1st. Are you prepared for Hurricane season? Did you know that Hurricane season lasts until the end of November? Have you gone out and bought all the supplies that you may need? This article is written to help you prepare for any kind of hurricane. It will also provide you with a list of items that are essential for any storm.

What do you need to do in order to prepare for a hurricane? If you live near the coastline, and a hurricane with deadly winds is going to make landfall, then you might consider evacuating and going to a shelter. You need to keep watching the news to see if the state has declared a state of emergency. If you are in the path of a land-falling hurricane, then you should prepare and have a list of supplies ready. List of supplies include: a first aid kit with all the necessary medications, canned food and an opener, plenty of water to last for at least 3 days, flashlights, a battery powered radio and extra batteries. Other supplies may include sandbags, tape, generator, raingear, sleeping bags and lastly protective clothing.

In order for one to be on the safe side, you should prepare for the worst and hope for the best. No one knows how deadly and destructive these hurricane winds are going to be. Therefore, you should have all your supplies next to you. According to Hurricanetips.com, folding beach chairs make an excellent alternative to cots. “They fold flat, double as a chair and allow you to store 16 gallon plastic storage tubs underneath to save space and secure your belongings.” (www.hurricanetips.com)

It is really important that you prepare a checklist of items that you will need. It is also important that you have a course of action ready along with important phone numbers that you might need in case of an emergency. Run through the checklist and make sure you have all your items gathered. Once all your items are gathered, make sure you have them put in a container that is small and portable. This way if you are forced to leave your home, then all you have to do is take your container with you. Now if you are forced to leave your home, you will need something to sleep on. Folding beach chairs make a good choice because they are light, they fold fast for easy storage and lastly they are easily transported. According to the Red Cross, shelters will usually allow you to keep anything that will fit in 18 square feet, slightly larger than the space for each beach chair. (www.redcross.com) Beach chairs make a great choice for storms that might require you to leave your home.

Another great item, are these new flashlights being sold over the Internet. Every year (hurricane season) people rush to Home Depot and Lowes to buy flashlights and batteries just in case the storm knocks out power lines causing a power outage for days. This way they are prepared. Who knows how long it will take for Utility companies to restore power? Why spend money on buying batteries and replacing bulbs when you can buy these new flashlights that work without batteries or the need to replace bulbs? You pick up one flashlight and your done. The flashlight will last you forever. These new and innovative flashlights are just what you need for hurricanes and other storms. They are really cheap and compact. Should you lose power, these flashlights will provide you with a guaranteed source of light. And the best thing about these flashlights is that they are stylish and light to carry.

These new flashlights are the shaking flashlights and the hand crank flashlights.

The shaking flashlights have an electric conductor that moves through some magnetic field, to generate electric current. All you need to do is shake the flashlight and electricity is generated. The light that is produced is very visible allowing you to see for a far distance. The hand crank flashlights are just as easy as the shaking flashlights. All you need to do is crank the flashlight for seconds and you will get a bright and visible source of light. These new and innovative flashlights are a far more, better choice than regular flashlights. These flashlights will save you the hassle of running out to the stores and looking to spend a lot of money on replacing batteries and bulbs. Eliminate the need to replace your bulbs or batteries. Another great product to keep around for hurricanes is the hand crank flashlight with a radio. This flashlight just like I mentioned above needs no batteries. Minutes of cranking, provides you with a source of light. And the best thing about this product is that it has a built in radio that has great reception. So if you are indoors and you lose power during a hurricane, you can still listen to the radio for the latest weather updates. All these products mentioned above are great for hurricane season.

Once these hurricanes make landfall, they can be really deadly. The heavy rains, strong winds and gigantic waves can damage buildings, trees and cars. They will even knock down power lines, leaving you without power for days. A good example would be the state of Florida last year. Hurricane Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne brought destructive winds and rain that knocked down power lines leaving most of the state without power for days. People rushed to the stores for flashlights, batteries, generators and anything they could find. It was too late and people were on top of each other fighting for what was left in these stores. Hurricanes cannot be controlled but our vulnerability can be reduced through preparedness. Be prepared for this year!

These new flashlights and the beach chairs mentioned can be found at Coconutz Home and Garden. All you have to do is visit the website and see for yourself. Should you be interested in any of our products mentioned above, please enter the code “Hurricane” when prompted at check out, and you will receive 10% off of any of our products. A link for the web store has been attached at the end of this article. Get your supplies now!

Passive Infrared Motion Detectors- These detectors are also known as PIR detectors. The technology they utilize is “passive infrared”. The device is mounted on a wall or in the corner of a room. It sends invisible fingers out into the covered area in several layers. The top layer goes the furthest and averages about 60 feet straight ahead and 35 feet on the sides.

The center layer of beams spreads the area about mid way and the bottom layer sweeps the room closest to the detector. These beams individually measure the infrared temperature of what ever they land on and look for a clash of temperature against that point. For example if a beam lands on your couch and knows what temperature it is, when you walk in front of the couch your temperature is different and causes a violation. You would be hard pressed to match the temperature of everything in your home as you walk about and that makes motion detectors hard to compromise.

Passive motion detectors have a microchip in them that will adjust the device for slow and methodical temperature changes. This way as your room warms up and cools down during an armed alarm period, you will not get a false alarm.

Some motion detectors are designed to be mounted in the ceiling and spread a 360-degree cone downward. Some are recessed to replicate an electric outlet and various other combinations are available for the James Bond like clients. Most often the device is an aesthetically pleasing small device that is mounted 5-7 feet high in the corner of a room.

Passive infrared motion detectors will not see through walls or windows as they will consider touching one of them as their final destination and begin calculating the temperature. The beams project forward only and will not bend around corners. If your device is placed where a beam can go into an area with an opened door, it will protect the interior of that area as well. Once the door is closed the beam will terminate on that door.

Motion detectors are not going to protect every square inch of your home or business unless you invest in many of them to accomplish that. Instead you should intelligently place them as an interior trap in an area or areas most likely to be violated by the creep or creeps that want to take your belongings or worst off violate you personally. Usually one placed properly on the main floor and one on the lower level if you have one, will serve as good traps. Stairways are often a good thing to consider when placing the device, due to the fact that you will prevent unauthorized passage from one floor to the next.

(HOT TIP!)
An alarm installer should always place a device where it will best serve the user and achieve the most coverage. Many an installer has elected to forgo this concept so that they can install the device in an area that is easier to get to with the wires. Insist on discussing all placement options with your installer before they place each motion detector. You can bet that your interests will be prioritized when they see your involvement in the decision process.

Dual Technology PIR- Dual means two technologies are used in one device. Both technologies must be violated to cause an alarm. These devices are used in harsh environments such as a garage or sun- room. The first technology is passive infrared and works as explained above. The second technology is most often Doppler and looks for the invisible movement of air. If you walk into a room the air has to move as your body mass pushes it along. The reason you would want a dual technology device is clear when you apply common sense to the desired area of protection. For example let’s say you pull your car in to a cool garage, go in the house and turn the alarm on for the night. Your motion detector that you put in your garage will see a dramatic temperature change as the heat from your engine radiates into the cool air. If you had a duel technology motion detector it would not see the air moving because your car is still, so it will refuse to go into an alarm condition.

Pet Immune Motion detector- This is a wonderful advancement in motion detection that may work for you if your pet free- roams your house while you are away and have your motion detectors on. Before the introduction of this technology the pet owner had to either confine their pets from the protected area or bypass the motion detector rendering it useless unless the pet was out of the home with them. The technology is the same as the regular passive infrared detectors. On the pet immune version there are two sets of beams that are offset from each other. Your pet must hit two pre- assigned beams simultaneously in order to violate the detector. Pets under a certain amount of weight (up to 85 pounds) are not long enough to hit both beams so it does not see them. A human torso is designed much differently as per a weight to length ratio causing them to violate either a horizontal or vertical pair of beams, depending on their favorite burglarizing posture.

On the pet immune detectors the middle and lower span of beams are pet immune but the top layer is not, due to the distance of separation between the farthest-reaching beams. Care must be taken on the placement of these devices restricting the high beams from stairways and high ledges your cat may get up on. (6-7 feet high) A good technician will mask only the beams that hit these trouble spots expanding your coverage options.

Remember that even though your device is technically restricted for use by weight of your pet, two or more small animals will have an opportunity to hit the two proper beams while playing with each other. I do not recommend that you use these devices with two or more pets no matter how small they are, unless one of them is rarely moving about. Also one free flying bird will look like a dinosaur entered the room if it flies close to the detector. (They have yet to design the “Dinosaur Immune Detector”)

If your pets do not fall into the allowances for using a pet immune motion detector then you should consider other options for creating interior traps. The well- designed system protects your perimeter as well as possible and creates interior traps in case the perimeter is circumvented.

Someone Spying? So are the Teddy Bear and the Potted Plant

See the cuddly teddy bear over on the shelf? Well, it sees you too. “Right here in the camera, behind the left eye.” said Marvin Badler, the owner of The Spy Mart a Monmouth County company dedicated to the proposition that what you don’t know can hurt you and what you do know can protect you from being caught off guard.

“There’s a wireless camera transmitter in here.” Mr. Badler said, holding the teddy bear in his arms and pointing to it’s furry little head. “ It can send a signal up to 300 feet away , so you don’t even need a wire to attach it to a VCR.

Mr. Badler a licensed Private investigator since 1961 and former chief investigator for the New York City Department of Correction, was demonstrating some of the item he sells from The Spy Mart’s showroom. “See that planter over there.” Mr. Badler said, pointing in the direction of an ordinary-looking potted plant. “There’s a camera in the pot. We build it last week. I was shopping with my wife, I saw the planter and came up with the idea.”

Mr. Badler’s business is answer to a challenge: how do you find out what someone is up to without his finding out what are you up to first? “Most of my customers are law enforcement types.” Mr. Badler said, referring to police, private detectives and prosecutors investigators. Investigators who come to avail themselfs of the latest in clandestine surveillance technology. But we also have a lot of private-sector people and businessman who come in because they want to record their own telephone conversation or because they’re afraid of their business are being bugged.”

Paramilitary Atmosphere

The Spy Mart, which Mr. Badler opened about two years ago, is on the second floor of an office building in Marlboro, New Jersey. Mr. Badler, a tall, burly man with a penchant for 10-gallon hats, also runs his private investigation and security business from the location. The atmosphere is decisively paramilitary, with a secretary and an assistant calling Mr. Badler “sir” in terse formal exchanges.

He instructed the secretary to call him on a telephone atop one of glass display cases that line the walls of the showroom. The phone rang , and Mr. Badler lifted the receiver. “This is a prototype.” he said, telling his assistant to pick up an extension in another room. A red light on the phone blinked on. “See? The phone went dead.” Mr. Badler said holding the receiver our for a visitor to verify that the phone was quite dead.” “What happened was, if I’m talking and somebody gets on the line with a listening device or comes in the room with a transmitter , the light goes on and the phone automatically disconnects the conversation.” He intends to market the new telephone to other spy shop around the country. The price? About $750.00. Many of the devices in The Spy Mart showroom, including the phone that goes dead, are items Mr. Badler designed himself and then built out of components available at any well - stocked electronics store.

“This is a microphone in a button.” he said, holding out for inspection what appeared to be, well, a button with wire attached to it. “You can put it on a selves of your shirt and attached it to any tape recorder.” he said. “It’s battery powered, and you can change the actual button so it matches the buttons on your shirt.”

He then showed me a pen that, he said, has a tiny microphone inside. Even upon close inspection, nothing about the pen appeared unusual. “The microphone is behind that hole,” he said, indication a hold bout the size of a period at the end of this sentence. “It’s supersensitive, too.”he said, asserting that the tiny microphone is about 10 times more sensitive then the microphones built into microcassettee recorders now on the market. “See the calculator?” he said, pointing to a credit-card-size calculator. “That’s a transmitter. But it’s not for public use, only law enforcement. It’s not FCC approved”.

Mr. Badler’s clandestine eavesdropping devices fall into two general t for public use: hard-wired, like the shirt button microphone, which plugs into a microcassettee recorder, and wireless, like the calculator that transmits to an FM receiver some distance away.

Behind the Picture Frame

Some of the wireless transmitters, like the one that replaces an ordinary electric wall socket, can transmit up to a half mile away, drawing power from the house current. Others, which use tiny batteries for power and are about the same size as a sugar cube, transmit for a less distance but are handy for surreptitious placement in vases, behind picture frames and attached under tables and other furniture.

“Again,” Mr. Badler said, “these are for law enforcement, not for public use. It’s illegal to record audio unless you are a party to the conversation.”

But if that’s’ the case, who might use the teddy bear camera with a video camera for a brain? “Anybody,” Mr. Badler replied. It’s not illegal to videotape.”

In fact, he said, the teddy bear was designed for clients who wanted to be able to keep track of how a child’s nanny was treating the child when the parents weren’t home. The teddy bear was set on a high shelf in the chid’s room and connected to a video recorder locked in the parents room. The cost? “Around $1,000.00, not including the ,VCR.” Mr. Badler said. “And there are ways we can make them work in total darkness.” Mr. Badler pointed to what looked like a clock hung on a wall. He instructed his visitor to look at the a video monitor just underneath the clock. On the screen was an image of a confused reporter looking at himself looking at a video monitor. “Now watch this,” Mr. Badler said, switching off the office lights, The image on the video monitor dimmed slightly but remained clear and distinct. “All we do is introduce a small infrared light source - we can hide it anywhere in the room - and it will bounce around and illuminate the room like it was daylight.”

A regular customer of The Spy Mart, a private investigator who declined to give his name, described yet another product that make use on infrared light. “I bought infrared filters for the headlights on my car.” the investigator said, explaining that he used the filters while staking out errant spouses for divorce clients. “I sit in my car with a video camera , aim the headlights at the house or motel and wait. The infrared filters light up the place like it was daytime. I can see them, but they can’t see me.”

The investigator said The Spy Mart was more then a high-the toy store for real-life Sam Spades and amateur spies.

Marvin doesn’t just sell you things and send you out the door,” the man said. “He tells you how to use what you buy. He gives suggestions. You tell him what you want to do and he’ll figure out how to do it.”

And for those new to the business of espionage and counterespionage, Mr. Badler also offers a small library of arcane books with such titles as “How to Disappear Completely and Never be Found.” “Get Even: The Complete Book of Dirty Tricks,” “How the Underdog Gets Justice” and “Methods of Disguise.”

Though The Spy Mart caters to law enforcement officials, Mr. Badler said, a growing segment of his business involves executive and business manages concerned about employee theft and corporate espionage.

“We have a lot of small businesses installing hidden video systems,” he said, adding that it is illegal to install such equipment in areas where people are entitled to expect privacy, like dressing rooms and bathrooms.

Worries About Wiretapping

“We also sell lot of systems to people who think their businesses or home items he showed his offices are being bugged or wiretapped by the competition,” he said. “And we help people who want to record their telephone conversation. A lot of insurance brokers are now recording customer conversation, which is legal.”

Though the market for surveillance devices for law enforcement never seems to dry up, he said, the market among business customers tracks the economy. “When things are bad out there for business, then business is good for me.” Mr. Badler said. “When the economy is bad, people are stealing more, and there are ad thins going on.”

One of the last items he showed his visitor was is personal favorite. “This is a bug detector,” he said, opening a case that contained a small electronic control panel. He took a small wand with a wire attached to it of the case and pointed the wand at the calculator, which really a hidden transmitter and was supposed to be virtually undetectable. The bug detector flashed and beeped and electronic warning.

“It’s one of my most popular items,”he said.

Alarm Sirens- There is both inside and outside sirens. Many towns have a noise ordinance, which should prevent your installer from putting yours outside, unless you are on a ranch where you need to know what’s going on while your out in the barn. You would not want a neighbor running over to your place during an alarm as they might be confronting a dangerous situation. It is better to let the police do that instead.

An inside siren is one that simulates a doorbell and placed high on a hallway wall, or a large siren is often placed in your return air vent. This will let a burglar know that they have violated an alarm so that they will hi- tail it out of there. It will also let you know that your system has been violated so that you can release the hounds, load your gun or hide under the covers, whatever you select as an appropriate response.

(HOT TIP!) Sirens are measured in decibels and wattage. A large siren would be 30 watts or more and at least 100 decibels. If you settle for a non- descriptive commitment such as “It will be loud” you may have authorized a smaller and less expensive siren to be installed. They are all loud, but the louder the better when it comes to scaring a burglar away.

Alarm Contacts- Contact switches are magnetic switches used to protect doors and windows for the most part. There are three main styles that are used by most alarm companies. They are recessed contacts, surface mount contacts and roller-ball contacts.

Recessed contacts are hidden in the window tracks and door jams so that they can’t be seen when the window or door is closed. The switch is on the fixed or non-movable side of the opening and a magnet is placed on the movable side. When the magnet meets the switch the circuit is complete and the control knows it is closed. Recessed contacts are more complicated to install unless they are placed during the construction phase of your home or business. A good installation technician can install recessed contacts in your home after construction as long as they have an unfinished basement, accessible attic or closet to run the wires in.

Surface mount contacts function the same as recessed ones however they are visible when the doors or windows are closed. They come in three main sizes being large, small and micro. They come in the colors white, gray and brown so they can blend in to the door trim or window- sill they are mounted on.

Roller-ball contacts are in the hinge side of your door jam and the spring- loaded ball is pushed in when the door is closed completing the circuit. These are more likely to need replacement in a few years as they are considered a moving part.

All types of recessed and surface mount contacts can be hardwired directly to your control panel or you can get them in a wireless version. Wireless contacts have a transmitter tied to them or built into them that sends a radio signal to a receiver in the control. The transmitter is surface mounted and comes in two colors, white and brown. If white and brown are not your desired colors, you can paint the switches and transmitters to match your decor.

Doors are the most common point of entry and should be protected by your system. I always recommend contacting every perimeter door in your home or business

Window contacts can add up in a hurry as most homes have many windows. I have always felt that window contacts give the homeowner a false sense of security because of the fact that a window has to be opened in order for them to work. If your window is locked (and it should be) when you are away or sleeping, a burglar has to break the glass or remove the glass to unlock it. If they break the glass and the alarm does not sound, why would they open the window? Instead they would most likely clear the broken glass and climb in. That is why your money is better spent on motion detectors and/or glass- break sound detectors.

If you have children, window contacts can be a valuable tool. They will keep your youngsters from opening the window for a stranger. And they will also make your teenager sorry you ever read this. (If they tell you all they want for the holidays is a magnet, the jigs up!) Window contacts are often better at keeping people in than they are at keeping burglars out. If you do choose to use window contacts you may like the fact that the surface mounted versions can be set up so that you can keep your window open a few inches for ventilation and still be armed.

For many years, novels and films have given us apocalyptic views of how easily mankind could disintegrate into ruthless barbarity once removed from the constraints of law and order, and the comfortable smooth machinery of “civilization”. But all that was just fiction, right? Not really. The reality is in the news.

While the people of New York City responded predominantly with goodwill and a heroic attitude to the World Trade Center attacks, it is important to keep in mind that the basic structure of the city – the services, facilities, and general day-to-day functions – were still intact. The disaster that has befallen the gulf states is an entirely different kind of animal. The entire city of New Orleans has been utterly devastated. Many peripheral communities and cities have been essentially washed away. There is no source of free-flowing fresh water, food sources have been severely depleted, virtually no energy infrastructure remains, although line crews from neighboring states are working feverishly to get power restored to critical facilities like the water supply system. Tens of thousands of people have lost their possessions, their homes, their jobs, and their entire way of life. As some of the survivors have put it, they are literally “adrift”.

While many people do have a positive, strong mental and psychological orientation, allowing them to forge ahead and find a way to carry on within the boundaries of law and moral principles, many others do not.

Poverty-stricken communities already have a tendency to have higher crime rates under normal conditions, due to obvious environmental factors. Many people in this environment often become dependant on the “welfare-state”, deriving some of their income, access to services, and food allowances from government-sponsored systems. In a “civilization-destroyed” scenario, these systems cease to function. In times like this, people who ordinarily would not resort to outright theft or robbery do so, and the more violently criminal-minded become even more ruthless and barbaric.

A disaster on the scale as that of the gulf states, where the ability of the government (local, state, or federal) to control affairs is seriously diminished, creates a ripe opportunity for the desperate and the criminal to exploit the misfortunes of others. And they’re doing it. Armed gangs roaming the demolished landscape, reports of rape inside the overwhelmed astrodome, boundless pillaging of every storefront or home left standing; these are the stark images that tell us just how fragile our domestic peace really is.

America is truly a great nation, populated by many great people. But there is bad among us, too, waiting for the opportunity to seize upon the misfortunes of others, whether for profit or just for plain pathological gratification.