Scoping the Espionage Boutique
He might be handsome, but James Bond just wouldn’t be 007 without his gadgets.
From a miniature camera to a tiny dart gun to a wristwatch filled with plastic explosives, Bond always has been well-equipped.
But why should Bond have all the fun? An amazing amount of Bond-like spy technology is available for consumer purchase at relatively affordable prices, such as the tiny video cameras, hidden listening devices and portable lie detectors for sale at spy shops and, of course, on the Internet.
Bill Zalud, editorial director for Security magazine, said the retail end of the security industry in the United States is estimated at $4 billion annually. Overall, the industry takes in $88 billion, but much of that is for private security systems that large businesses use, he said.
Part of the reason consumer sales are up, dealers say, is that prices are down. The march of technology has made electronic devices cheaper and smaller, just as it has in the world of computers. “Just over the last two or three years, it’s become affordable, and it’s become available to the masses,” said Kelly Fromm, chief executive of Counter Intelligence Technologies of Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Internet has also been a factor, spreading information about spy gadgets and enabling vendors to reach prospective customers, wherever they may be.
“There’s a lot of people interested in securing their families and their valuables,” said Marsha Pearl of CSS International, which runs the Counter Spy Shop at Madison Avenue and 49th Street in Manhattan (https://www.spyzone.com).
Then, too, a slew of popular movies--have highlighted the role of technology in information gathering.
Perhaps our own rising suspicions are responsible as well.
“Our biggest customer is the mom who wants to watch the nanny or the husband who wants to check on the spouse for infidelity,” said Fromm, who operates a Web site called https://www.SpyGear4U.com.
Ralph Thomas, owner of the Spy Exchange and Security Center (https://www.spyexchange.com) in Austin, Texas, said lower prices have really opened up the market. Here’s a sampling of what’s available, as advertised:
Telephone with Truth.Quest function: Telephone registers “voice stress” to determine which callers may not be telling the truth. Price: $49.95 (https://www.sharperimage.com).
Miniature video camera: Billed as the world’s smallest video camera. Price, including receiving station: $450 (https://www.spooktech.com).
Super listening microphone: Pulls in sounds from as far away as 100 yards. Price: $39.95. (https://www.edgeco.com).
Telephone voice changer: This device disguises your voice over the telephone. Price: $29.95 (https://www.edgeco.com).
CPM-700 bug sweeper: Checks rooms for surveillance devices. Price: $2,395 (https://www.spyexchange.com).
