Concealment devices

Concealment devices

A spy does not simply snap pictures of the enemy with their camera or carry their assassination weapon out in the open. They do not pass along secret codes as if they were simple pieces of paper. They hide them, conceal them. They do this depending on where they are and what they want to do.

For example, If you were working undercover in an office and you wanted to snap a picture of the man in charge without him knowing you would hide a camera in your coat button or perhaps your tie.

Spies have been using concealed cameras, codes, and weapons for a very long time. They have been using concealment devices for as far back as World War I when the first secret message was written on the back of a button; because one of the most important things about being a spy is making sure no one knows you're a spy. One of the first concealed cameras was hidden by a button. The camera lens was hidden behind a coat button. Later spies started putting listening devices and cameras inside the buttons.

Listening devices are often called “bugs” because they are so small (and often unwanted). Their size makes them perfect for concealment. They are often hidden in pens, coins, Jewelry, and other small objects. Once a man hid a listening device penny in the pocket of a someone he planned to spy on. The problem was, he spent it before the man could listen in on anything!

Cameras are slightly harder to conceal because they have to be out in the open to take pictures and videos while listening devices can be in a pocket or even in the next room. Cameras can be hidden inside walls, stuffed animals, figurines, clocks, household plants, paintings, or anything with holes.

Spies also use concealment to hide weapons. Since they usually have to carry weapons with them, they are concealed in everyday things things that you take everywhere with you like your umbrella, lipstick, ring, or even your shoes.

In 1978 Georgi Markov criticized the Bulgarian government and was assassinated. He was jabbed in the leg by a man with an umbrella- a poison umbrella! There have been cases of poison rings, poison tea, and in World War II, bombs disguised as lumps of coal. There are even shoes with hidden blades.