Tourists should ‘turn all the lights off’ to find hidden camera

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Even though the threat of a hidden camera is rare, it can be a worry for tourists. Aaron Bond, a private investigator and security expert at Bond Rees, explained how to spot one.

Think like a criminal

“If someone wants to invade your privacy, think of where they would need to position the camera to do so,” said Aaron.

He added: “The first place to look would be high and wide, think of ceilings and corners in a room as they give the best field of view.”

A hidden camera could be concealed in the corner of a room or at a high point to get a wide angle.

Tourists may be particularly concerned about bathrooms and bedrooms being secretly filmed.

Know what you should be looking for

Hidden cameras are getting harder to spot as the devices have become a lot smaller in recent years.

Some lenses can be small as a pin, making it very difficult for tourists to identify a hidden camera.

Aaron said: “The body of a hidden camera will never be on show so unfortunately, the part of the camera that is visible to us is also the smallest part of it.”

He added that cameras could be hidden in everyday items which might not arouse suspicion immediately.

Use your mobile phone to detect hidden cameras

Aaron said: “If you have a mobile phone that can detect infrared signals, walk around the room and scan items that are suspicious. If you see a red light on one of these items there is a camera inside.”

Although not all mobile phones will be able to find hidden cameras, some mobile cameras can detect infrared light.

Britons can find this out by turning the ‘selfie’ camera on and pointing it at their TV’s remote control as they change the TV’s volume or channel.

If they see a red light when they do this, their phone is capable of detecting infrared signals.

Create a DIY camera detector

Seeing a lens in a brightly lit room can be very difficult and if a phone isn’t capable of detecting infrared light, tourists will need to improvise.

They can use a toilet roll and a torch to do this. Aaron said: “The cheapest and most effective way to find a hidden camera lens in your holiday let is to turn off all the lights in your room and close all the curtains and blinds.

“Next, get the inside of a toilet roll and hold it close to one eye while closing the other. Camera lenses will give off a glint when light hits them and using the toilet roll will help your eyes focus and make finding these intrusive devices much easier.”

Purchase and use a RF detector

Aaron recommended that tourists buy an inexpensive RF detector device if they travel frequently.

He said: “To use an RF detector you will need to unplug items which broadcast signals such as WIFI units, games consoles, baby monitors and TVs.

“You should then scan the property for signals. When you pick up a signal your device will beep, from here you should look at the object to investigate further.

“There can be false alarms with these types of devices so if something does beep, don’t panic and investigate further.”

Source: Read Full Article