Hints and tips on covert applications and installations by Julian Sharples, Managing Director GBC Europe Ltd.

In a commercial environment, the classic application for covert cameras is to catch criminals in the act. Sometimes this can be almost ludicrously straightforward. I was told of one example about steroids being stolen from a warehouse. Once the problem became evident, someone noticed an interesting coincidence. One member of staff, known to be a keen body builder, seemed to be increasing in size as fast as the stock went missing. It came as no surprise when the same person was caught on camera, looking like Conan the Barbarian with a bad case of acne, trying to steal some more. It is often the case that once a problem such as shoplifting or stock shrinkage becomes apparent, it is relatively simple to work out when and where the crime is being committed. Then it is just a case of installing a covert system and waiting for the evidence.

It is true that a very large number of covert installations are used to great effect in this manner and in such circumstances, but it would be foolish to take this success for granted. CCTV is becoming a familiar concept, as a result of it's effectiveness and consequent exposure on television and in the press. Criminals will become increasingly aware that CCTV is being used against them and they will try to take precautions to avoid detection. It is up to the equipment manufacturers, installers and end-users to do everything they can to retain the initiative.

It is relatively easy to make a camera covert, they are so small they can be hidden in virtually anything larger than a matchbox. The difficult bit, particularly when the target is a member of staff, is making the entire installation covert, which is a challenge that begins from the moment an end user realises he or she has a problem. It may sound obvious, but there is no point asking a secretary in a busy office to ring around a few security companies in Yellow Pages. Any knowledge of the installer or installation must be on a need to know basis, otherwise the effectiveness of the exercise is compromised before it has even begun. Nothing about the installation company should draw attention to its real purpose, not its name, its logo or its livery, and above all its staff must be well trained in discretion so as not to draw attention to themselves.

Typically, installations are carried out at night, when there are fewer people about to see what's going on, but with many companies running a 24hour operation, some locations are never empty. The Northampton based security company ASI, explained to me how they get round the problem:

"If there are likely to be people around while we are working, there are one or two precautions that we can take to avoid being compromised. First of all, if there is a specific suspect, it is sensible to carry out the installation when he or she is off the premises. Secondly, it helps to have a convincing cover story to allay any suspicion. Sometimes the end user stages a fake problem such as an alarm repeatedly going off by mistake, which gives our engineers an excellent excuse for being on-site."

Once the installation has been completed it is important that nothing is left behind to cause suspicion. People get used to their surroundings and are quite likely to notice anything out of the ordinary. Even common appliances such as PIRs, clocks and smoke detectors may stand out if they are placed in locations where they weren't used before, or where they aren't appropriate. It is therefore important that installers are realistic about what can be achieved. Once again, ASI related a pertinent example:

"A customer wanted a covert camera in a strong room, because a member of staff had stolen money from the safe and they wanted to catch him if he tried it again. When we arrived on site we couldn't do anything because the room comprised four plain concrete walls and the safe, any addition was sure to stand out. We may have got away with a PIR camera, but we couldn't afford to risk scaring the suspect off, so instead we returned later with more tools and drilled a hole in one of the walls to house a miniature camera. We fed the wiring through the wall into the next room and filled the hole back up, leaving a tiny space for the lens to see through. Sure enough the thief came back for more and was caught red handed."
Such examples are quite rare and in the vast majority of circumstances the wide range of ready made covert cameras available will include something appropriate for most applications.

It is also important to keep the rest of the installation covert to avoid detection. The wiring, monitors, VCR and any other equipment all need to be inconspicuous. "All in one" cables are available which can carry the power, video signal, audio signal and alarm signal together, which cuts out the need for tell-tale multiple wires(be sure to use white cables to avoid attracting attention to the installation). A video card inside a PC removes the need for a separate monitor. Alternatively a miniature VCR with built-in 4" monitor (such as the Sony GVS50) can provide the most discreet solution of all, because with measurements of only 149x83x127mm, it's easy to hide away and doesn't look particularly conspicuous even when it's in plain view. The most discreet solution of all is often to use wireless transmission whereby all the accessories can be housed well away from the cameras, even in separate premises. I will be exploring wireless transmission in greater detail in a future article.

As I mentioned earlier, CCTV is becoming an increasingly familiar concept, not least among criminals who are trying a few tricks of their own to overcome its effectiveness. Once again it is up to installers to use their own imagination to keep the initiative. Here's another example from ASI:

"Theft from a bonded warehouse was traced to the toilets which the thieves were confident would be a camera-free zone. Stolen goods had been left in the false ceiling above a cubicle and the brief was to identify the criminals when they retrieved the goods. We fitted a covert camera which showed the space beneath the ceiling without any danger of infringing people's privacy. We installed the system on a Saturday night, and by the Sunday evening the thieves had been caught. During the same day the camera also provided evidence of bullying by a supervisor, and drug dealing. It seems that it wasn't only the thieves who thought they were safe from discovery!"

Sometimes criminals fully expect cameras to be in use and take appropriate precautions. The next example is from Zoom CCTV in Washington, Tyne & Wear:

"A fake ID may be all that's needed to trick an equipment hire company into letting a thief walk away with valuable machinery. In addition a hat, turned up collar and hunched posture may render identification impossible from conventional overt CCTV alone. By adding a covert camera near the counter it's easy to get a clear visual record of everyone who hires equipment."

Combining overt and covert cameras is a popular choice with many retail outlets, where both a deterrent and a more subtle method of detection are often required, particularly with regard to shoplifting. The following story from Incom Security Systems of Manchester, illustrates a typical game of cat and mouse:

"Retailers often respond to shoplifting by having overt cameras installed, in the hope they will deter crime. Unfortunately this doesn't always work. A persistent thief will look for cameras, work out the blind spots, and carry on stealing where they can't be seen. In large shops it simply isn't possible to install enough cameras to cover every angle and every view. Instead, the answer is to install one or two covert cameras to film parts of the shop not covered by the overt units. To bait the trap, stock lines popular with shoplifters are placed in view of the covert models - where the thieves mistakenly believe they are safe from detection."

One feature common to many of the stories I have heard from installers, is that covert installations get results very quickly, which begs the question what to do with the equipment once it has done its job. Here's some more advice from Zoom CCTV:

"Once you catch someone with a covert camera it becomes very difficult to keep the installation a secret. Whether the culprit was a member of staff or not, word soon gets around so the future effectiveness of the successful camera may be put in question. One option is to replace the covert unit with an overt camera which will help to keep that particular location secure and provide the opportunity for re-using the covert model somewhere else if it's needed again in the future. Another option is to hire the equipment, but that can work out to be expensive particularly if the cameras are needed more than once or twice. Realistically, catching one shoplifter or dishonest member of staff isn't likely to solve the problem forever so buying is likely to be the best choice."

The overall theme of this article is that a little thought, creativity and cunning is required to ensure the success of a covert CCTV installation. Thieves will try everything to get what they want, but we have surprise on our side in the form of "invisible" cameras - a powerful weapon indeed!

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