Offices in two different New York locations are dealing with the discovery of covert eavesdropping and unauthorized audio recording taking place.
Upstate New York
In the town of Auburn, NY, a woman was charged with a felony for allegedly eavesdropping on a coworker.
Heidi Church was arrested on May 6 for hiding a recording device under a coworker’s desk and recording conversations. Someone found the device and the victim then contacted the police. Further investigation led to the arrest of Ms. Church.
East Hampton, Long Island, from The East Hampton Star
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office has been notified of possible electronic eavesdropping at the East Hampton Town Trustees’ office in Amagansett. The recordings were apparently politically motivated, although it is not clear at this time how the recordings were obtained.
A recording that includes discussions between the trustees’ clerk and two deputy clerks was provided to The Star last week. The trustees who are heard on the recording said that calls from The Star on Monday confirmed rumors that had been swirling for more than a month and that they had taken seriously enough to take to their attorney, the town’s attorney, and East Hampton Town police. No formal complaint has been filed with the Police Department, according to Chief Michael Sarlo.
…
“We were approached today by The East Hampton Star,” Mr. Grimes continued. “They have listened to the tape. And it doesn’t matter what’s said on there. The fact of the matter is it was said in private, with the understanding that it was private. . . . If any member of this board was either involved in it, or complicit . . . or had knowledge of it, I would expect that there’s going to be some hell to pay. . . . I feel violated. I think any member of the public who came to us and is on that tape should feel violated, because they didn’t come to our offices to get spied upon.”
Mr. Grimes said the recording “would almost have to” have been made by someone with access to the trustees’ conference room, in the Lamb Building on Bluff Road.
[Read more at The East Hampton Star]
Recording devices are easily secreted in a variety of places and can be very difficult to find. All someone needs is access to the target location. This could include employees, executives, cleaners, contractors, former employees who may still have access, or even the public at large in areas that may be open to the public from time to time. A device could be dropped off one day and picked up days later, filled with confidential information.
As an example, during an inspection of a corporate boardroom, stapled under the wooden conference table, we discovered a home-made shelf that was used for hiding a small recorder. Video cameras recorded the entrances to the room so the client was able to discover who had access both prior to and after important meetings took place.
If you are concerned about the security of conversations in conference or meeting rooms, ensure that good physical security is in place- both access control of who may enter, and cctv cameras observing who has entered or exited the rooms, and of course, regular TSCM inspections should take place.