Latest theft threat
EXPOSED Bike crims use spy-cam tech
‘Spy cameras have been found on suspects’ DR KEN GERMAN
Motorcycle crime expert and Met Police Consultant, Dr Ken German, has warned that motorcycle thieves may be using wildlife cameras to case their victims’ properties. “Spy cameras similar to those seen on television capturing images of animal activity at night have been found on suspects believed responsible for burglaries and stealing motorcycles,” he said. “These cameras, many of which can be camouflaged, would be strapped to a tree or fence with the intention of establishing when householders are not at home in order to break in or steal their machines. The thieves retrieve the camera when they go in for the bike.”
The only way to combat this is to be extra vigilant and keep an eye on any posts, trees or fences that overlook your property. Dr German also says there is some suggestion that the cameras are installed after a tracking device is first used to find out where you live, so keep an eye out for any devices stuck to your bike, too. The criminals aren’t the only ones turning to camera tech, though. Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police have been trialling a live stream video system called GoodSAM which turns any smartphone into a surveillance camera linked to the police station. Instant-On-Scene allows the public to live stream an incident directly to the police control room along with their precise location and there’s no need for an app, either.
Officers can also use the system to stream their own video to HQ or to each other and even drone footage can be integrated. Callers who dial 999 have to give consent to GoodSAM before a stream is started which, together with rigorous risk assessments, ensures that noone is ever placed at increased risk by sharing video footage. This means that members of the public who see a crime being committed, for example the theft of a motorbike, can simultaneously call the police and provide video evidence.