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Archive for November, 2009
Monday, November 30th, 2009
A Chicago police officer was arrested last week for allegedly stealing over $600,000 from the Chicago Police Sergeants Association. Sergeant John Pallohusky, President of the Association, is being charged with theft and money laundering.
The Cook County attorney’s office allege that the money was spent personal items for Pallohusky. Where did the money go? Gambling trips to Las Vegas, a reported $163,000 on Ameritrade, a whopping $75,000 at Chicago restaurants, downtown hotel stays, and his home.
Police Superintendent Jody Weiss referred to the Sergeant as the “Bernie Madhoff” of the Chicago Police Department. Pallohusky’s attorney, Robert Kuzas, stated that he believed in his clients innocence, stating; “I don’t believe he misappropriated one penny of the union’s money.” Pallohusky is no stranger to crime; in 1989 he was arrested and subsequently plead guilty to a misdemeanor fraud charge over a petition drive to add a nonpartisan mayoral referendum to the ballot.
Cook County prosecutors sought to subponeae the treasurer of the Sergeants Association, Sgt. Mary O’Toole, and then discovered that she was Pallohusky’s wife. The Chicago Police Department’s Internal Affairs department began the investigation in late summer after the bank noticed that large sums of money were being deposited into Pallohusky’s private account from checks, and a credit card, drawn off the Union’s account.
Tags: Accused, chicago, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Police Sergeants Association, Cook County, CPD, John Pallohusky, Police Sergeant, theft
Posted in Criminal Foolishness, How To Catch a Criminal, How to Catch a Thief | No Comments »
Saturday, November 21st, 2009
It’s safe to say that all of us know that the universal emergency number, 911, is not to be used for anything other than emergencies. Well, Tampa resident Joshua Basso is the exception. His cell phone ran out of minutes, and with no other hope in his heart (or loins), he dialed the one number that would work: 911.
When the operator picked up, Mr. Basso relayed that he wanted to have sex with someone. The operators, obviously knowing it was a prank, hung up. He called back. Four times.
After his final call, police decided that enough was enough and showed up at his house, arresting him on the spot for making false distress calls to 911. He was taken to jail, where he’s being held without bail.
He’s no stranger to Tampa’s jails, having been arrested on probation violation, domestic violence charges, grand theft, drug charges, burglary, and trespassing. With that history, you’d think that 911 would be the last number he would call.
Not so. Proving once again that criminals, although dangerous, but foolish as well.
He may just be up for a Darwin Award.
Posted in Criminal Foolishness, How To Catch a Criminal | No Comments »
Saturday, November 21st, 2009
Although the woman to the left, Diana Burton, is certainly what most of us would call the grandmotherly type, warm and loving, there is more to her than that. She has raised her children, and is now helping her children raise their children, just like my grandmother did for our family. Still, there’s something special about Diana. Do you feel your heart warming and getting fuzzy? Well, just let it go; Ms. Burton is a thief (allegedly). Yes, loving “Grandma Burton” is actually the matriarch of a shoplifting ring that was operating outside Cleveland just picked up by local authorities on Thursday. Her “gang” is suspected of not only committing the crimes for which they were arrested, but other thefts and fraud-type activities in Ohio, and their home town, Chicago.
The theft ring, comprised of grandma, her son Donald Burton, his girlfriend Amina Frye, and Frye’s two young children, an 8-year old boy and 10-year old girl, were operating in Cleveland when arrested. They were captured on surveillance video at Macy’s in Parma, OH, a suburb west of Cleveland. Amina Frye and the children entered Macy’s and were seen on surveillance cameras stealing merchandise. When store security went to nab the children, the adults entered the store and a fight began as the ring tried to flee to their waiting vehicle, a 2009 Chevy Suburban. (Another Macy’s in the Cleveland area had informed all the stores to watch for the gang after being hit the day prior.)
After Burton and his mother freed the children and their mother, the five thieves fled, yet only made it a short distance as police cars shut down all escape routes. During a search of the Suburban, police documented stolen computers, credit cards, and gift cards. Four Chicagoans have thus far been identified as possible victims.
If you feel that you, or your place of business, are victims of shoplifting, call U-Spy Store for the latest video surveillance equipment. Whether your needs require a two camera system or something all-encompassing, we’ll meet or surpass your security requirements. Our number is 773-529-2779, or send us an email.
Tags: Burton Family, family of thieves, felony theft, Grandma Gang, Rip off, shoplifting, theft, theft by unlawful taking
Posted in Criminal Foolishness, Home, Personal & Travel Security, How To Catch a Criminal, How to Catch a Thief | No Comments »
Saturday, November 21st, 2009
How would you like to find out via the news that the house you burgled last night happens to be that of a Chicago Police Officer? To a thief, I think that this would be rather, er, trying. In the same situation, what would you do if you found out the Police Officer was actually a CPD Official, namely Deputy Superintendent Steve Peterson, two steps down from the top position at the Chicago Police Department?
If it were me, I’d move. Forever. I understand that out of fairness, all cases should be treated with equal weight, but we are all human; thus, crime hits us harder if we, or those close to us, are the victims. People…like our boss. Even more unfortunate for the crooks is the fact that Peterson is in-charge of the detective’s division… Do you think that they’ll be motivated to solve this case?
A note to those trafficking in stolen goods: Avoid 50-inch flat screen TVs and .357 Magnums like H1N1…they’re two items reported missing from Peterson’s home.
U-Spy Store has worked with law enforcement on numerous investigations over our twenty-plus years, and THE best lesson we’ve learned is: Crime Never Discriminates, it is an equal opportunity destroyer. Thus, we always advise our clients that it’s better to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best; in the long-run, it saves time, money, and, at times, lives.
If you need recommendations on increasing security at your home or place of business, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We provide free-estimates and carry a variety of home/business protection equipment. Our phone number is 773-529-2779. Or, feel free to drop us an Email
Tags: burglarized, burglary, burgle, chicago, chicago video security, crime, dvr, hot, police, steal, stolen, surveillance, theft, U-Spy Store, video, Video Security
Posted in Criminal Foolishness, Home, Personal & Travel Security, How To Catch a Criminal, How to Catch a Thief, U-Spy Surveillance Equipment, Video Security | 1 Comment »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Don’t like the idea of your neighbors rudely snooping on the wireless signal you slaved to pay for from the lazy comfort of their living room? It’s not just about slowing down your connection; while they’re downloading Mad Men via bittorrent, you could be on the hook for their actions.
Wireless security and encryption systems are fraught with problems and insecurity, and other methods to restrict your signal to a small area are cumbersome at best.
Enter a new solution: Anti-Wi-Fi paint.
The idea is simple: Use a special paint on walls where you don’t want wireless to pass through (say the exterior of your house). The secret is mixing aluminum-iron oxide particles in with the paint. The metal particles resonate at the same frequency as Wi-Fi and other radio waves, so signals can’t pass through the thin layer of pigment. Outsiders would simply be unable to access your wireless network, just as you, inside the house, won’t be able to interlope on anything beamed on the outside.
Developed by the University of Tokyo, the paint is said to be the first that can block radio frequency in higher spectra where Wi-Fi and other higher-bandwidth communications occur rather than just low-frequency wireless like FM radio. Most Wi-Fi technologies operate at 2.4GHz; the Tokyo paint can reportedly block frequencies all the way up to 100GHz, with a 200GHz-blocking paint now in the works.
The paint isn’t just of interest to those concerned about wireless leaking out of the building. Movie theaters have long been interested in finding a legal way to keep cell phones silent during screenings. Electronic jammers that actively block wireless signals are illegal, but passive materials that prevent wireless signals from getting through are not. Since the wireless-blocking paint can also block the lower-frequency signals that cell phones use, addled mobile junkies would have no outlet for reaching the outside world.
Some aren’t convinced that anti-Wi-Fi paint makes a lot of sense for a secure situation, though. Says one engineer, “Surely the thought of having to redecorate a building in order to provide Wi-Fi security is more costly and complex than the security functionality available in even the cheapest of Wi-Fi access points…”
Good point.
From Christopher Null: The Working Guy – Yahoo Tech
Posted in Electronic Countermeasures - Debugging, Home, Personal & Travel Security, U-Spy Surveillance Equipment, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Do you ever wonder what is going on at your home or business while you are away? These days an Internet Ready Digital Video Recorder can be found in more places than ever and at an affordable price. Keep in mind however that not all Internet Ready DVRs are capable of being viewed on a cell phone. As a general rule of thumb, if it doesn’t say anywhere in the product description that the DVR can be viewed on a cell phone, it is probably not cell phone viewable.
Recently more cell phone (more specifically I-Phone and BlackBerry) viewable systems have become available which means a wider selection and better prices. For example, a complete package can be purchased for around $750 with 4 cameras, an LCD monitor built in, the latest H.264 compression, and capable of being viewed on an I-Phone or BlackBerry.
There are certain factors which must be considered first before buying a system for the purpose of accessing with a cell phone. First you should check with your provider to find out how much data you are allowed to download each month. Frequent live viewing can use up to several megabytes of data per day so it is recommended that your plan include at least 500 Megabytes of data per month for downloading. Second there will be limitations to viewing live video on a cell phone. For example, your video will likely not be real time which means it will not look as smooth as it would when looking at your video on a monitor at the location of the DVR.
All things considered it is still a great feature to be able to see your Security Cameras from an I-Phone or BlackBerry. This is especially true when the safety of your family and the protection of your assets are depending on it.
For more information about viewing Security Cameras on a cell phone and any other questions about Video Security, contact the experts at U Spy Enterprises or visit www.USpyStore.com.
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
The dark underbelly of crime is a malevolent, violent world which most have never witnessed; unless, of course, they live their lives in that world. Most, if not all, illegal activities stem from the same place. From the 50,000 foot view, all of the pieces interlock to form a “hierarchy” of criminal activities.
Think of it this way: at the bottom end, the grifters, petty thieves, and car burglars, usually younger and less experienced, often amusing, place. Some crimes, after being committed, leave us scratching our heads and wondering, “What were they thinking?” As we’ve alluded to before, video surveillance is being used on an increasing basis to not only deter or document criminal activities, but as a means of stretching available resources, doing “more” with “less.” Where businesses often had a security team, they are now able to have strategically placed security personnel that, with radios and camera surveillance, can cover a larger area in a more effective and efficient manner.
You’d think that a cop would know better. But, no, so reports the Daily Mail.
A police officer tasked with catching shoplifters at an HMV store was caught on camera stealing computer games by concealing them underneath his stab vest. PC Peter Cokell, 34, was found guilty of theft after he was caught on CCTV shoplifting from the store he was being paid to protect.The damning footage, which was shown to magistrates in his trial, shows him stealing two PlayStation 3 games and then taking them to the rear of the shop in his police hat. He can then be seen slipping the games – Call of Duty and Kill Zone – worth only £74.98, inside his stab vest before walking from the shop without setting off the alarms.
A ruined career for a hundred or so bucks. Crime obviously does not pay. Although the officer denied the charges, the Judge stated that the games ‘certainly left the site’ after watching the CCTV evidence. Video doesn’t lie.
If you need to set up video surveillance, please let us know. U-Spy has been in the surveillance field for 20 years and can answer any questions you might have. Email us, at <a href=”mailto:info@uspystore.com”>USpy Store</a>, or give us a call at (773) 529-2779.
Tags: arrested, busted, cameras, dvr, jail, picked-up, shoplifting, stealing, surveillance, theft, theft by unlawful taking, video
Posted in Criminal Foolishness, Electronic Countermeasures - Debugging, How To Catch a Criminal, How to Catch a Thief, U-Spy Surveillance Equipment, Video Security | No Comments »
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Security and surveillance cameras come in all shapes and sizes; as technology has increased, the size of our electronics has decreased. Hidden cameras, also known as Spy cams or, in some cases, Nanny Cams, are sold one of two ways; the first is as a ready to use product. In other words, let’s say that the needed to be placed in a home to monitor the activities of older teenagers after school. To keep the camera “a secret,” a customer would simply purchase an item like a wall clock with the camera already installed. The second method is to buy a camera and install it where needed. This is a method that could be used in almost any situation as long as the installer had some experience on the most effective location to perform the install.
Today, hidden cameras are available in items like wrist watches, ballpoint pens, MP3 docking stations, clock radios, wall radios, jump drives, and other common items. As cameras grow steadily smaller, so do the items in which they can be installed; which, depending on the camera’s use, is a positive. Yet, as with all technology, there will be those that use advances in technology for immoral, and criminal, activities.
It’s safe to assume that no one wants to be filmed using the bathroom, so the technicians and managers at USpy Store aren’t quite sure what to make of a toothbrush camera. If it’s not being used to make sure that your 7-year old brushes his teeth, it’s suspected that this camera will be utilized for recording sexual exploits without raising suspicion. USpy Store’s staff of security and surveillance experts felt it was our duty to pass this on to ensure that our customers and friends were aware of this camera.
Per the distributor (we will not condone their product by adding a lindo anyone justice by mentioning them) it is packaged in an Packaged in a Braun Oral B toothbrush casing, both the camera and DVR are huosed in that single case. Creatively named the ” Pinhole Spy Toothbrush,” the device is capable of 4-to-5 hours of continuous use, provides 640×480 video in AVI, and carried 8GB of flash memory. It is packaged in an ORAL B toothbrush casing and costs $243.
U-Spy is here to serve you: If you think that you’re being monitored without your knowledge USpy can provide recommendations and advice on counter-surveillance equipment, like bug and camera detectors. If you need advice on how these items operate, please either check our website; www.uspystore.com, send an email; info@uspystore.com or give us a call at 773-529-2SPY (2779). We are open from 9am to 7 pm, Monday through Saturday, CST.
Tags: cam, camera, dash cam, dvr, illegal, illicit use, mini cam, nanny cam, pinhole cam, spy, spy cam, surveillance, toothbrush cam, voyeur
Posted in Spy Gear We Question | 2 Comments »
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