Blog: Posts in Hidden Cameras

KIDS CAUGHT ON HOME HIDDEN CAMERA STEALING A TV AND COMPUTER

( ) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 16:40:52 +0000

Baby-faced burglars have spooked a southeast Atlanta neighborhood where they hauled off a television while one waved a gun.

“Kids” is how homeowner Zach Goossen described the trio. They were captured on his security cameras from several angles, with good views of their faces.

“You have to wonder, did they just leave school an hour before that or something,” Goosen told Channel 2 Action News.

Police told the news outlet that they have a suspect in custody, warrants for two others and suspicions about a fourth person whom they are trying to identify.

The burglars also took a computer and a gun.

Neighbor Jennifer Murray said the Thursday break in has the neighborhood along Flat Shoals Avenue on edge.

“You wonder what's going on with these kids that they are out during the day running around breaking into houses,” she said.

Make sure your home is protected from break-ins with a hidden home spy camera. They are quick and easy to set up and will provide a sense of security when you can't be there.

http://www.thecoverteye.com/Home_Spy_Hidden_Camera

ABUSE CAUGHT ON HIDDEN CAMERA NETS NURSING AIDE 5 MONTH SENTENCE

( ) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:27:14 +0000

A former certified nursing assistant was sentenced this week to five months in jail and five years of probation for the abuse of a nursing home resident that was captured by a hidden camera.

Rose Dorlean Blaise, 36, was charged with one count of battery on the elderly after she was caught on tape with another CNA abusing a 76-year-old resident with Alzheimer's at Palm Garden of Winter Haven in Winter Haven, FL.

The video footage showed Blaise and Yashika Jones, 30, taunting, kicking and hitting the resident on three different occasions in 2015. Jones was sentenced to 18 months in prison and five years of probation in May.

The resident's family placed the hidden camera inside a clock in his room after they noticed bruising on his body. He has since died.

In addition to her sentence Blaise must undergo a 26-week batterer intervention program, write an apology letter to the man's family and forfeit her nursing license. She also is barred from future employment in a caretaking position.

Officials at Winter Haven were not available for comment on Thursday. In a statement released to Tampa Bay's 10 News following Blaise and Jones' initial arrest, Winter Haven Chief Operating Officer Jeff Bomberger said the company maintained an “overarching commitment” to providing a safe and welcoming care environment, and had suspended the two without pay.

“Upon the completion of this investigation and the satisfaction of all legal and law enforcement issues, we will determine and enact any necessary changes to prevent such actions from ever occurring again,” Bomberger wrote.

Currently Illinois, Washington, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico allow cameras to be installed in nursing home resident rooms. In addition, Utah this week moved closer to becoming the first state to pass legislation allowing cameras in assisted living resident rooms.

The Covert Eye strongly advocates the use of covert hidden cameras in all nursing homes and assisted living facilities for those who have elderly family members residing there. Make sure your loved ones are being looked after with the care and dignity they deserve when you can't be there.

CAMERAS THAT LET YOU VIEW FROM ANYWHERE WITH ALMOST ANY DEVICE

Admin@thecoverteye.com (Admin ) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:32:23 +0000

Today, covert wifi spy cameras are a vital part of any fully modernized security system, allowing comprehensive home and business surveillance without the hassle of complex wiring schemes. A covert camera wifi surveillance network allows for remote viewing to your home PC, laptop, tablet. Android, iPhone or iPad. With a wireless wifi spy camera system with remote Internet access, you can be sure that your property... is safe and secure from anywhere in the world. And, because these spy camera via wifi systems set up through your home computer, you rarely need a dedicated digital video recorder.

Hidden spy cameras with wifi come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges. The Covert Eye's wide selection of hidden wifi spy camera DVR recorders enables you to monitor your home and office in nearly any situation. Choose from a host of features such as night vision, motion activation, and portability so you can bring your wifi recording device on the road to monitor a hotel room while on a business trip. These wifi direct spy cameras enable you to protect what matters most, giving you the peace of mind to confidently go about your business knowing that your family and property are in good hands.

To see and learn more about these wifi spy cameras go to http://www.thecoverteye.com/covert_wifi_spy_camera

COUPLE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO REQUIRE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN ALL CARE HOMES

Admin@thecoverteye.com (Admin ) — Fri, 20 Dec 2019 15:35:55 +0000

We can't always be around to keep an eye on our loved ones every minute of the day, and how confident can we be that the babysitter, nanny or care giver who we entrust to look after our child in our absence isn't mistreating them? This is why the use of home hidden spy cameras are becoming more and more popular today.

Parents Paul and Julie Rowlands installed hidden cameras in their home after suspecting that their hired caretaker was abusing their disabled son. As they played the recorded footage, they realized it was even worst than they thought.

HIDDEN CAMERAS REVEAL HOW MUCH (AND HOW LITTLE) SOME HOTEL MAIDS REALLY CLEAN

Admin@thecoverteye.com (Admin ) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 15:07:57 +0000

Ever wonder when you check into your hotel room just how well its been cleaned from the previous night's occupant? We assume the maid has cleaned everything, including changing the sheets and disinfecting the bathroom. But a hidden camera investigation revealed that may not always be the case.

The Rossen Reports team booked rooms for two nights at some of the most popular hotel chains and rigged them with cameras (all three of the hotels were in northeastern New Jersey). In each case they put soda in the glasses, threw towels on the bathroom floors and made the rooms looked used before calling to have housekeeping make them up, as well as prominently displaying the card requesting that all linens be changed.

You may want to do a little investigating yourself the next time you travel. Check out some of our covert spy cameras and leave one in the room when you go out for the day. You may be surprised when you review the video later that day. https:www.thecoverteye.com/Covert_Spy_Cameras

Do You Have A Family Member In A Nursing Home Or An Assisted Living Facility?

Admin@thecoverteye.com (Admin ) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 15:09:14 +0000

For peace of mind you may want to consider a spy camera. For most of us the decision to place an aging parent or grandparent in the care of others is a hard th...ing to do. Are they being treated with care? Have any possessions suddenly become lost? We can't be there 24 hours a day to watch over them, but a inconspicuous covert spy camera can. You'll be able to watch the interactions with nurses and staff, and capture how any items might have gone missing. A good many of the nanny cams we sell aren't necessarily for parents wanting to keep an eye on their children when away, but children wanting to keep an eye on an elderly family member. Even if you're sure of the quality of care they are receiving, how sure can you be of others who are residing there also?

Families of patients being looked after in nursing homes and care facilities are now being advised to use spy cameras and nanny cams to ease fears of their loved one's well-being and safety. Although this article comes from the UK, the same advise from health care administrators here is being given, as well.

If you, or someone you know, have set up a hidden camera in such a circumstance to watch over an elderly family member we would like to hear about it and what some of the concerns were to prompt you to use it. To learn more about the types of cameras available go to www.thecoverteye.com or to see our line of covert spy cameras click https://www.thecoverteye.com/Covert_Spy_Cameras.

COVERT SPY CAMERAS AND THEIR EVOLUTION

Admin@thecoverteye.com (Admin ) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 18:14:35 +0000

Over the past decade there has been a marked evolution in the technology of surveillance equipment, along with a significant reduction in price among security cameras, tracking devices, and GPS units. Perhaps the biggest evolution of these has been seen in the area of hidden spy cameras. In less than 10 years, the “nanny cam” has evolved from a complicated setup of electronic equipment to a simple to use electronic work of art. So, what steps has technology taken in the evolution of spy cameras?

Wired to Wireless Hidden Cameras

Like standard security cameras found today protecting homes, businesses, and found on nearly every street corner in the city, nanny cams were another wired camera needing video connections running from the camera unit back to a recording device, like a VCR or monitor. Along the way, micro chips got smaller and more powerful in creating miniature lenses, or what is today called pinhole cameras. These were easily placed into such everyday items, like teddy bears, clock radios, and nearly any household item. Although still available today and often seen in disguised hidden cameras, like smoke detectors, floodlights, and some wall clocks, they require two sets of wires to transmit power and signal to a TV or DVR.

Concealing the wires was a bit cumbersome, but then a new generation of wireless cameras hit the market starting around 2000. First manufactured in such inanimate objects as planters, teddy bears, books, exit signs, and countless other items, wireless cameras eventually found their way into practical working components, like alarm clocks, clock radios, wristwatches, cell phones, fountain pens, and CD players. Inside the component was a tiny pinhole video camera and a small wireless transmitter. When a customer purchased a wireless nanny cam, they got not only a working electronic device but a receiver, A/V cables and power adapter as well. The tricky part came when it was actually time to set up the hidden camera system. The receiver that was provided had to plug into either a monitor close by or a VCR if they wanted to record events throughout the day. This required the user to place the VCR somewhere in the house within 100 feet of the camera, either in another room or on another floor altogether. The receiver was then plugged into the VCR, and when the user was ready to start recording he just hit the “start” button. Voila!....well, not exactly. A standard VHS cassette can only record eight to ten hours max, which can create a problem. However, with the advent of PCs and DVR players this did greatly extend the recording time available.

Let's say a mother wants to keep an eye on the nanny or babysitter while she's at work during the day. Just before leaving the house in the morning she would plug in the nanny cam and turn on the VCR or DVR to start recording. On arriving home at the end of the day and wanting to review what was recorded, she would have to sit for several minutes while fast-forwarding through hours of video, often looking at nothing at all. At the time, this was the only means available to monitor her child's welfare during the day, and the process at best was tedious.

Motion Activated Spy Cams

The concept of motion activation in video recording was a big breakthrough in the spy camera industry. Although the technology had been around for years, it wasn't until the mid 2000's that it became available and affordable to every day consumers. No longer did people have to sit through countless hours of viewing blank tape only to find nothing eventful was captured that day. Now, with motion activated hidden cameras, recording only took place when the camera's sensors detected activity in the room. If nothing moved, then the camera sat idle. As a result, the user might only have to watch 30 minutes to an hour of tape rather than 8 hours or more of static recording.

Another technology feature that came along to compliment the motion activated features of hidden cameras was the increasing popularity of the DVR, which eventually all but replaced the VCR. With a DVR there was no longer a need for VHS tape, since everything that was recorded now was done digitally, frame by frame. The advent of motion activation together with the convenience of the DVR made spy camera and nanny cam users very happy. Then, when it didn't seem things could improve any further, technology came along once again to improve the spy camera one more time.

Built-in DVRs and Micro SD Cards

A growing need started to develop for a self-contained, all-in-one hidden camera system, which by 2006 saw a solution finally arrive. To the delight of everyone, the motion activated spy cam now came with a built-in DVR, which utilized a micro SD card for hours of additional recording time and expanded memory. Gone, were audio/video cables, wireless transmitters, receivers, VCRs and obsolete cassette tape. The new generation of nanny cams and spy cameras allowed the user to set the device and walk away; either for the day, or weeks at a time. When he returned and wanted to view what the camera had recorded, he simply removed the SD card and inserted it into a USB card reader or directly into an SD card slot on the computer. Since the camera only recorded when movement was detected, viewing what had been captured became quick and easy. These cameras, which can be built into any everyday item imaginable, and often include added features like variable recording speeds, low light apertures, still shots, and date and time stamps, remain as the most popular hidden spy camera dvr on the market today. It didn't seem that video surveillance could get any better or easier, but then technology advanced once again to bring us the latest generation of hidden spy cameras.

Real Time Remote Viewing

Just when you thought covert spy cameras couldn't get any better, the newest technology that's come out now allows live, remote viewing capabilities. With this new platform of video surveillance, your desktop PC or laptop now becomes a server and a DVR.

The way it works is, the user places the spy camera in any room of his home, office, or other location he wishes to monitor, and the video is streamed live to his computer. As an example, say a guy owns a manufacturing firm in city “A” but has to travel to city “B” frequently to meet with suppliers. He wants to keep an eye on his business and workers while he's away, so he installs a few live, wireless remote-view cameras around the premises. Now, from wherever he is, here and abroad where he can establish an Internet connection, he can log into his laptop and remotely watch live what is taking place at his business in real time. He can also record directly onto his hard drive what the camera is capturing simultaneously 24-hours a day. All that is required is to load the included software program and to connect the receiver directly into the USB port of the computer located on the premises.

This technology is also great for mothers who work and want to monitor their child and babysitter during the day while at the office, or for parents of teenagers who are left at home unsupervised, or perhaps for a husband or wife who may suspect the other of cheating and infidelity, or for family members who are responsible for the care and well-being of elderly parents or relatives who are residing in nursing homes and long-term care facilities. The uses and applications for remote live viewing spy cameras are virtually unlimited.

Next on the Horizon?

It seems that every time we think technology can't improve over what we have today, we are continually surprised in the next technological advance. This is especially true when it comes to wireless hidden spy cameras. We are always excited and eager when the next new spy device or camera is introduced to the market. When that happens, you can be sure The Covert Eye will be there to offer the latest and newest covert surveillance product to our customers.

SOME PRACTICAL USES FOR COVERT SPY CAMERAS

Admin@thecoverteye.com (Admin ) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 18:16:37 +0000

Mention the words “hidden camera” or “spy cameras” to ten different people and you'll likely receive ten different thoughts and opinions. For many, it might mean a nanny cam for home to keep an eye on their kids while at work as well as to observe the behavior of a babysitter or nanny. For others, it can mean collecting proof of a family member pilfering money out of a wallet or desk drawer. A wife or husband may utilize a concealed camera to help confirm a suspicion their spouse could be fooling around on them. Employers often utilize covert monitoring in order to watch over their employees, while a number of employees will place a spy camera on their desktop or work space to safe guard possessions against theft by the nightly cleaning crew. There are as many good reasons why people use a hidden camera as there are in the variety of cleverly disguised spy cameras to choose from.

The usage of video is everywhere these days. What was once associated only with spies and covert operatives employed by the government, now can easily be found in several digital camera stores and bought by everyday consumers. Today, hidden video cameras can be found in stores and retail shops, commercial offices, factories, airports, train stations, and on almost every street corner in the city. In fact, it is virtually impossible not to be recorded somewhere in the course of a normal day, especially if you live in or near a metropolitan area.

Here are a few other popular or unusual purposes for covert spy cameras.

We've practically all seen law enforcement shows on television where a meeting room is bugged with hidden audio and video surveillance equipment to gather evidence for a sting operation, or where an officer is wired when going undercover. Likewise, investigative journalists may use a spy camera to be able to document proof regarding a scam artist, or in health violations taking place in the kitchen of a restaurant or food packing plant, or perhaps in a article relating to animal cruelty. Many companies may use video recording as an effective training tool for their workers, especially with regard to their sales staff when practicing their presentations to clients. Other companies utilize hidden cameras when launching new products and services to the market and want to obtain a sampling of consumer response. This could be a taste test between Pepsi and Coke, or the release of a new and improved corn chip by Frito Lay.

An increasing number of employees today are resorting to spy camera recorders in the work place to document proof of verbal and physical discrimination. Sadly, sexual harassment towards women in the workplace continues to rise, while the laws protecting us from all forms of discrimination and harassment continues to be watered down by the courts. HR departments are usually caught in the middle of these claims, and without documented proof to support assertions of age, race, or sexual harassment, HR will always side with the company to avoid getting into legal entanglements. This is where a hidden camera can supply the evidence you need. With the occurrence recorded on video and audio, your proof now becomes irrefutable.

Last, but certainly not least, is the need to document eldercare abuse. The abuse of our elderly is significantly more prevalent today than a generation ago. A newly released government investigation showed that 60% of all nursing homes in this country experience some kind of elder abuse. Often these victims are immobile, may suffer from dementia or Alzheimer's, and have a difficult time in verbalizing their abuse. If you're a family member caring for an elderly parent or grandparent in a nursing facility, a hidden camera might be the only way to document that your loved one is being properly cared for and attended to.

The thing that makes these cameras so effective is that they can be hidden in everyday products found in your home or place of work. In fact, they're so common most people don't glance twice at them, or would ever suppose there's a video camera found inside. Hidden spy cameras may be found in wall clocks, AM/FM digital clock radios, picture frames, room deodorizers, tissue containers, coat hooks, table lamps, desktop calculators, flower pots, smoke alarms, fountain pens, and stuffed teddy bears. There is virtually no object that can't be transformed to a hidden spy camera for home or work.

There is also a big selection of body worn covert cameras, such as spy watches, Bluetooth cameras, spy pen camera, and camera glasses. These, and hundreds of other widely used hidden cameras have become more simpler to use than ever due to the fact the DVR is built in. In discarding the necessity for wires and wireless receivers, these basic cameras can record the video and sound onto themselves using a normal SD card. With up to 32GB of memory, they will furnish you with several hours of recording time. Another aspect that's generally found is a motion detection setting, thus extending the recording time even further by only activating the camera to come on when movement is detected. When you're ready to see the video, you can just simply connect the camera to your pc with the supplied USB cable, or remove the SD card and place it straight into the computer or SD card reader.

HIDDEN SPY CAMERAS COMING TO PHOENIX POLICE OFFICERS

Admin@thecoverteye.com (Admin ) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 18:25:25 +0000

As many as 50 Phoenix police officers may soon be wearing tiny convert video surveillance cameras as part of their uniform accouterment if a $500,000 grant is approved in early September through a joint partnership with Arizona State University and the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant is being called The Smart Policing Initiative.

Earlier this spring, a pilot program was tested with 18 officers wearing the small hidden spy cameras attached to their uniform in an effort to increase police transparency with the public. The three month trial, which concluded in June, resulted in 860 hours worth of video. From among the recordings, portions of the footage will be used as evidence in 62 cases going before the court.

The spy camera is worn like a Bluetooth device around the ear, and can be turned on and off from a remote control on the chest. A pocket recorder, or small video monitor, is attached to the belt. Once activated, video can't be edited or deleted.

Arizona law requires at least one person be aware they are being recorded, although the law is not well defined in how that is communicated or acknowledged, and can likely not even register depending on the situation or number of persons being confronted by officers. During the trial period some citizens did key in on the cameras being worn and asked if they were being recorded.

During the pilot program, Phoenix police tested Scottsdale-based TASER International's Axon cameras, which are more obvious in their appearance than traditional covert cameras of the same type, and come with a more heftier price tag. The cost of Axon cameras are about $1,700, plus an annual $1,200 each to archive the video footage. Likewise, a comparable wireless Bluetooth covert camera from any local security store runs about $200. The grant doesn't specify which brand of cameras are to be used, but does require the police agency to enlist a research partner. In the case of Phoenix it will be A.S.U., who will collect and analyze the data and calculate the effectiveness of their efforts.

The “Candid-Camera” officer video pilot program was one of 34 recommendations developed by a Phoenix task force last January to help improve relations between the police department and the community. The task force came into being in April, 2010, after several incidents involving the police angered citizens, including a March 2010 incident which saw City Councilman Michael Johnson, an Afro-American, wrestled to the ground and handcuffed by a White police officer.

With the eye of “Big Brother” becoming more prevalent in our daily lives now, and technology providing a video recorder to anyone with a cell phone, providing police officers with a wearable video recording device is the logical next step in the progression. How this plays out over time and the legal impact it could carry will be questions that will no doubt be discussed, but for now it may give us pause to be mindful of what we say and how we respond the next time we are confronted by an officer of the law.

FAQ ON HIDDEN CAMERAS

( ) — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 19:40:45 +0000

Over the past several weeks we've received an unusually high number of calls and emails from people having questions and seeking advice regarding our line of security cameras and hidden nanny cams, wanting to know which one would work best for them in solving their particular need. This month I would like to address some of those questions.

By far, questions about choosing the right hidden camera come up the most. Each customer has their own need for wanting to monitor a certain area of the house, and each area presents its own special set of circumstances. One of the first things people look at when browsing the images under “Hidden Cameras” or “Nanny Cams” is which one would best fit into the area or room intended? Hidden cameras can be made into just about any “every day” object imaginable, and we have over 100 such cameras to choose from. One of the things I encounter most, though, is people who start second-guessing themselves on a model. By that I mean, once they know where the lens is on a disguised camera and they go to place it in a room, they feel others will be drawn to it immediately and realize that it's in fact a hidden camera. This is seldom the case. People, for the most part, are not observant. Question 10 people what they saw at the scene of an accident, and you'll get 10 different answers. One illustration I give out is magic. Ever been left wondering after watching David Copperfield? Many years ago when I began practicing magic as a hobby and doing some local shows, my main concern after learning a new trick was that my audience would see exactly how I did it. Of course this is where practice comes in, but once I had all the moves down pat I would fret unnecessarily that the audience would follow those moves exactly and hence know how the trick was done. Because I knew, I gave undue credit to the audience for knowing too, and the simpler the trick was, the simpler it had to be for the audience to see through it. Nothing was farther from the truth, and in fact the simpler the trick the more amazed was the reaction. I was over-thinking my act. Likewise, people are not going to recognize a hidden camera because they're not expecting one; just as an audience isn't expecting you to pull out the Ace of Spades from their shirt pocket at the conclusion of the trick. Most people will hardly give a second glance to a new object placed in a room, even a clock radio that you've placed on the bedside table. How many of you became extremely curious when your parents put up a new smoke detector in a room, or added a new book to the bookshelf, or plugged an outlet into the wall, or hung up a new mirror? Not many I would imagine. Don't over-think the camera. Only you will know what it really is.

There are three basic types of cameras;wired, wireless, and Stealth Cams (or those with built-in DVRs).

Teddy Bear Nanny Cam (Stealth Cam)

Mini PTZ Wifi Security Cam

Exit Sign Hidden Camera (wired)

CCD Security Camera (wireless)

Wired cameras are mostly seen in security cameras, especially in businesses and commercial use buildings, although we do carry wired hidden cameras as well. As the name implies, these cameras require cable connections running back to your recording device, such as a TV, VCR, DVR or PC. Security cameras also come in different styles as well, including domes, bullets, infrared and hidden, and can be used both inside and outdoors. Security cameras tend to have a fixed 4mm lens that can detect facial features out to 90 feet, and some even have pan/tilt and zoom features. And with wired cameras, there is no chance of outside interference hindering the picture quality, as can sometimes occur with wireless.

Wireless cameras send a video signal to a receiver which is connected to the recording device. The advantage with wireless is that it eliminates the need for cables, but is susceptible to interference (like from a cordless phone that's placed too close and if that phone happens to be on the same 2.4GHz frequency as the camera.) 2.4GHZ is the standard frequency at which data and video is transmitted. The distance at which a wireless camera can operate will vary slightly between cameras, but will usually transmit between 700 and 1000 feet back to the receiver. It has also been asked if the wireless signal can transmit through walls and cement block, and the answer is, yes, providing there isn't too much metal within. Wireless cameras themselves can be powered either by battery or AC. In models such as alarm clock radio hidden cameras which are plugged in, the AC powers both the functioning clock as well as the camera. In the mini wireless systems – those that use a board camera or button camera the size of a dime, they can be operated both ways. The battery option here is usually a 9-volt, but the battery life is only about 5 hours. Some wired and wireless camera set-ups also come with software that provides remote viewing capabilities. These become IP cameras, which allow you to log into the Internet from anywhere in the world and see exactly what the camera is seeing in real time. This not only lets you keep an eye on your house while on vacation, but also an eye on the Nanny when you're at work.

The last types are the Stealth Cams with a built-in DVR that captures all the recording. They are the easiest to use, and the most popular choice for a hidden camera. Most Stealth Cams are plug & play, while others operate on an internal rechargeable battery, where often times recharging is done by connecting the camera to the computer via a USB cable. These are the perfect all-in-one cameras. The internal DVRs are simply SD cards; the same SD cards you use in your digital cameras and video camcorders. This eliminates the need for cables, transmitters, receivers, and hookups to monitors. When you're ready to view the video, simply connect the camera to the PC by the USB cable. You can also remove the SD card and either insert it into the SD slot on your PC (if you have one), or into a card reader. Most cameras will also allow you to set film speed, schedule your recording time, and have a motion activation feature which will trigger the camera to come on only when its sensors have picked up motion in the room. Many of these cameras come with a 4GB or 8Gb card, but will take up to a 32GB SD card for even longer recording time. Depending on the speed and resolution you choose, you can record hundreds of hours on one card. Many also offer an overwrite feature so that once the memory has been filled, recording will continue from the beginning of the SD card again.

Recently, technology has tweaked these last two types a bit more. New to our hidden camera lineup this month are 7 new wireless IP cameras. What makes these wireless cameras different is that the receiver is completely standalone. It doesn't require a computer! The IP receiver plugs directly into your wireless router, so there is no software or program to worry about. Not only can you stream your video over the Internet to view anywhere in the world, but each receiver also has a built-in DVR so that you can record directly onto your own SD card. It doesn't get any simpler than that! Two other new wireless models we've added now contain their own Wi-Fi transmitters. This allows you to transmit the camera's video signal directly through your existing Internet connection for remote recording or viewing from virtually anywhere. It's the perfect answer to any of your hidden camera or baby monitoring needs.

Clock Radio Hidden Camera (Wi-Fi)

One last note about choosing the right camera for you. If the room where the camera is placed will have varying degrees of light, then you'll have to select a camera whose lens can adapt to those light conditions. Color video needs to have adequate lighting conditions, so is best recorded during daytime hours or in a well lit room. If the room well be semi-dark, then you'll need to record in black & white with a lens that will adjust for low-light conditions. Low-light means there is some illumination, if only from a night light or the light cast from a TV screen. Camera specifications give a LUX rating, which is the amount of light needed for the camera to see. If the LUX rating is .003, then the camera will see and record in low-light conditions. Some camera are offered in color or B&W models, while others have the ability to record in color and automatically switch to B&W when the lighting conditions change. For night time recording or when wanting to record in total darkness, then you will need an IR camera built for that intended purpose. The IR (or infrared) lens is designed to see and record images in total darkness. To see these very special cameras in action, click here on our Nitespy Clock Radio DVR and scroll down to watch the video.

ONE HIGH SCHOOL CRACKS DOWN WITH COVERT SURVEILLANCE

Admin@thecoverteye.com (Admin ) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 15:50:12 +0000

Not long ago I spoke on the phone with a friend of mine, John, who teaches high school in central California. He'd been at the school now for about eight years, but had been teaching English for close to 20. Since he came to his present position I would often hear stories of his frustration in trying to maintain a level of discipline and learning in the classroom, while often being at odds with the administration office. Actually, it was a frustration felt by many teachers in the school. It was a school run amok, or as John put it, one where the students were running the asylum. Without getting into the whole educational debate and the lack of funding for many of our schools in this country, the basic complaint that was heard here was the lack of support given to teachers from the District Office on down. Teachers were not only questioned if they handed out “D's” and “F's”, but if a student was sent to the principal's office for violation of school policy or for disrupting the class, they were sent back to class almost immediately with hardly a reprimand. Over time this only usurped the teacher's authority, and gave the upper hand to the students. Teaching at the school was hard enough. It ranked in the lower third, academically, and the socio-economic background of the student population was lower middle-class, with many parents out of work or on welfare. Theft and drugs were two other growing issues, and then there began a more serious one where many students started becoming confrontational. A student threatening a teacher wasn't unheard of, and when that threat was brought to the school principal it was usually shrugged off, or the teacher was made to feel they had aggravated the situation with the student. It wasn't surprising that teacher turnover was also becoming a growing concern. John said he, too, would have left last year, but with two more years to go before he could retire with his pension he elected to stick it out.

“A lot of the problem stems from the parents,” John said. “Very few show up on parent/teacher nights, and fewer still take a hand in instructing their kids at home or seeing that their homework is done on time. But catch a kid cheating on a test, or smoking a joint in the bathroom, or try suspending a student for stealing, fighting or verbally abusing a teacher, and the next day you have the parents in the administration office threatening the school with lawsuits. The school backs down, the district office backs down, and everything gets swept under the rug. It's too messy and costly, and administrators don't want to jeopardize their jobs, let alone the possibility of losing federal education dollars.”

This year, though, a new high school principal came onboard. He had been a Vice-Principal at a high school in west L.A. This one seemed different, and while he made it known that one of his goals was to raise academic achievement, he was also a no non-sense type of person. One of his first agendas was to meet with the entire teaching staff before the start of the semester and get their feedback on where improvements can be made, and what the problems were they faced in the classroom and in the hallways. He listened for over two hours as incident after incident was recited, and heard the frustration they were feeling. With that, he promised to try and institute some changes, and then a few days later met with the district superintendent about the problems his staff and school were facing. One of the suggestions he proposed was to install hidden cameras in strategic locations throughout the school. He related how they had used them in his old school, and how they were both effective and inexpensive. It would also aid him in enforcing school more forcefully. Letters would be sent out to all parents informing them of the new security procedures in place, and a list of what was expected of each student and of the guidelines and rules that would be in place. Perhaps a bit surprisingly, his suggestion was approved, and since he was simply expanding the few security cameras they had outside the school already, he got the backing of the school board as well.

One of the first things they did was to replace all the wall clocks with new ones, but ones with tiny cameras and built-in DVRs for recording. Video is captured on a small SD card that can be easily removed for later playback on any PC. He also added two spy cameras to the library; a desk lamp on one of the back reading tables, and a book camera that sat on the librarian's reference shelf. Both, recording onto internal DVRs. They could also be set to motion detect mode for after school hours.

Also functioning as surveillance cameras were the exits signs at the end of the hallways. Looking just like the ones they replaced, the pinhole cameras inside of these could record video even in low light conditions. In addition to the cameras, the principal also installed PIR motion sensors in rooms and areas not already covered by video. These would trigger an alarm if anyone were to enter a room they shouldn't be in, or enter after hours.

The principal then met with his staff once again and explained the monitoring systems that had been put in place. He also encouraged them to help in the school's goal to reduce and minimize student's misbehavior and to enforce a code of conduct in the classroom, including how assignments were to be done and turned in on time. He then showed them a pen camera that he took from his shirt pocket and the watch camera he had on his wrist. Working just like the hidden cameras that had been placed around the school, these two everyday items could also record video as well as audio. He suggested that these, and many other similar type objects, might be something they'd want to consider investing in. Inexpensive as well, they could be carried around easily and provide a measure of security when in the classroom or when outside the range of the security cameras. This was not only for the school's and the student's safety, but for that of the teachers as well.

At the beginning of the school year it became a bit amusing to watch many of the students as they walked the halls and went from one class to another. Knowing that the school was taking a stricter stance on behavior and had added new surveillance cameras throughout the building, they seemed puzzled when looking around to find where exactly the new cameras were placed. Expecting the typical surveillance camera mounted on a corner wall, as seen in most office buildings, they failed to see anything out of the ordinary. During the first few weeks the students had a feeling of caution and there was not one incident of misconduct reported. However, after a while a few began to suspect whether the new system actually existed or not. When the first student was called into the principal's office for fighting another student by the lockers, and a second was called in for sneaking a periodical out of the library, they had but few words and even more astonished faces when presented with the video evidence as it played on the principal's laptop. Word quickly spread from there, and while the majority of the student body never caught on to where the cameras actually were, the number of incidents involving thefts, fighting, vandalism, and classroom disruptions were severely reduced.

There was one other incident that did occur later in the semester, and this one set the tone that the school was serious in its new policies. A math teacher was accosted in the parking lot one day by a student of his, whom he had given a failing grade to on a test a day earlier, and then told to leave the classroom when he became verbally abusive. Seeking his retribution outside the eyes of any cameras, he waited for the teacher as he was leaving, and then pushed him against his car. In no uncertain words, he swore and threatened to physically injure him if he ever again failed him on a test or embarrassed him by sending him to the office during class. Shaken, but otherwise ok, the teacher reported the incident to the new principal. Fortunately, he had heeded his administrator's advice earlier in the year and had purchased a pen camera that he used mostly for grading papers. He really hadn't used it for much else. When he saw the student approach him, though, his reflex was to push the clicker on the pen which was in his shirt pocket. By doing so it had recorded the entire confrontation. When a call was made to the parents later that evening informing them of the incident and that their son was being suspended from school, it triggered an outburst from the other end of the line. As expected, the next morning saw both parents at the school demanding to see the principal. How dare he suspend their son. And what kind of teachers were they hiring in this school? According to their son, it was the teacher who had it in for him and purposely failed him on the test. More than likely because their son was Latino. Furthermore, they had it from their son that he only approached his math teacher as he was leaving to ask him a question, and inquire how he might pick up his grade by doing extra credit. By their account, it was the teacher who became physically and verbally abusive. The father again brought up racial bias as being at the root of all this, and vowed that they would be meeting with their lawyer that afternoon to file charges against the school. He was not about to let it rest.

The principal listened patiently as the parents unleashed their anger, and then calmly informed them that the whole incident had been caught and recorded on video. He brought up the clip on his laptop, hit play, and turned the monitor around so they could watch and listen. It lasted less than a minute, but the silence that filled the room was deafening. The father swallowed hard while the mother turned her head to look away. The words came hard, but the father acknowledged that a mistake had been made. Their son hadn't been truthful with them, and this seem to hurt just as much as witnessing their son's grievous actions. With humility, the father apologized for their outburst and then for their son's behavior. He accepted the suspension, and promised the principal that he would come down with his own form of punishment at home. He thought he had raised his son better than that, but apparently he took too much at face value and missed many of the warning signs. He vowed that if his son was allowed back, he would return with a new attitude.

That was the last major incident to have happened at the school, and while there continued to be some rumblings from parents about legalities and privacy issues, there were no violations of the law. What was seen, though, at the end of the school year was a dramatic reduction in theft, vandalism, and misbehavior, and a marked improvement in overall grades and test scores. Admittedly, even many of the students agreed that the cameras had made an improvement and provided a sense of security in the school that they hadn't felt before. Do we need more surveillance measures in our lives, and should all schools adopt this same policy? I don't think so. Hidden cameras do serve a purpose and when used judiciously can be an effective tool to alleviate a growing problem or concern. In this instance, and quite possibly for many other similar schools in our cities across the country, a system of hidden cameras may be the answer to creating a safer learning environment, and allowing our teachers to do more teaching and less policing in the classroom.