[FedCom] Tracking/Surveillance Techniques Intrigue!!!

[Ken]

We had some interesting public corruption cases here in the Springfield MA 
area that involved some interesting technical surveillance aspects.

In one case, the alleged master mind (Springfield Housing Authority) would 
have meetings in his cellar with his family members.  Apparently, an 
RF/radio bug on a "cooperating" family member/informant wouldn't work so the 
individual actually had to wear a recorder.   Now I would have thought that 
in a situation like this, perhaps the mobile units couldn't get close enough 
(without tipping someone off) to monitor the rf bug BUT would an aircraft 
flying above (hint to Civil Air Patrol, perhaps this is another mission you 
could perform!) have had a better chance of picking up the signal?   Also I 
would have thought that a protective/response detail would have been 
available and that some sort of signalling device (panic/help transmitter 
button?) would have been available IF the recorder was discovered.

Another case involved the (Chicopee MA) mayor, allegedly being video 
taped/voice recorded at a fixed "cooperating informants" place of business, 
as the mayor "allegedly" tries to stuff thousands of dollars (in small 
bills) into his front pants pockets, he jokes about it not being in an 
envelope (I would imagine that the FBI techs monitoring this entire episode 
as it happened were probably rolling on the ground in laughter, at that 
point).  I would assume that the

My understanding is also on fixed surveillance targets that rf/radio type 
bugs are no longer used in most cases, but a more "advanced" non-radio 
related technique is being employed.

At one time wasn't there fixed video surveillance cameras (at various places 
of interest to the FBI, etc.) disguised as cable TV/electric boxes that 
actually emitted an rf signal that some hobbyists who had purchased 
government surplus gear discovered? (don't recall where I read this).

I would think that the new GPS tracking devices, have pretty much replaced 
those old bumper beepers that the surveillance crews would have to follow. 
HOWEVER, in the rare cases where a RF bug is being used, the survelliance (& 
protection/response) team still has to follow the informant around via 
vehicle, on foot, etc. and if there's any transmissions in the clear, that 
can be quite exciting to monitor.

A pretty interesting professional website on various surveillance 
devices/techniques is:
http://www.tscm.com/typebug.html

and I really didn't use any "advanced" internet search techniques to find 
it!!! ;)

Ken