How to Make Spy Gear

Last Updated: December 12, 2021 Approved

Spy gear has fascinated movie goers for decades. While many of the sophisticated, high-tech gadgets created for film may be fantasy, surveillance equipment is commonly employed by detectives and private investigators in real life. You can make spy gear at home and have fun pretending to be a secret agent or detective.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Using Spy Equipment and Technology

1
Use tiny cameras to record others. Small cameras are easily hidden.
- Purchase a micro digital camera from a spy shop or online.
- There are many kinds of micro cameras available at a variety of prices, starting under $50.00.
- If you are going to be filming at night, make sure to get a camera that works well in low light.
2
Make wearable surveillance equipment. Record people without being seen.
- Place the camera inside the front of a cap or hat.
- Use tape to attach it to the hat.
- Make a small hole in the front of the hat.
- Aim the lens of the camera forward to capture your point of view.
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3
Use objects to hide surveillance equipment. Small devices can be hidden easily.
- Hide a tiny camera or recording device in a pot of flowers.
- Attach a small camera to a pen and leave it out near a conversation you wish to overhear.
- Hide a tiny camera in a bookshelf.
- Remember to test the devices before you need them and make adjustments to pick up all the sound and video you need.
4
Build a periscope to see around objects, like corners, without being detected. If you know you won’t be seen you can use larger equipment to spy on someone. ^{[1]
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- Purchase 2 small mirrors.
- Alternate 2 3.5"x18" and 2 3"x15" cardboard to make a rectangle chamber.
- Cut 3" openings at the top front and bottom back of the tube (the 3"x15" sides), to accommodate the mirrors.
- Tape the one mirror inside the top opening and one inside the bottom opening.
- Make sure the mirrors face each other.
- Make sure the mirrors sit at 45 degree angles so that they reflect images to each other. ^{[2]
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- Close off the ends of the tube with more cardboard.
- Aim the top of the periscope at what you want to see.
- View the scene in the lower mirror.
5
Make a keyhole spy gadget with paper and a small, clear marble to look into a closed room. You will be able to see if a room is empty or occupied without opening the door. ^{[3]
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- Cut the thick black paper to size (approx. 8 times as long as the diameter of the marble, and 5 times as wide).
- Put the marble in the middle of the paper, and roll the paper tightly around it.
- Stick it with tape to make a tube.
- Push the marble to one end until it's just sticking out. The half of the marble will still be inside, and half of it will be outside.
- Stick the marble end through a keyhole.
- Look through the non-marble end.
- You will have a fish-eye (but upside down) view of the room.
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Changing your Appearance

1
Use clothing and accessories to alter your appearance. You will be able to follow someone without being detected.
- Wear a hat to cover your hair.
- Wear a wig or hat with a wig attached to change your hair color and style.
- Put on a uniform to look like a maintenance worker.
- Use clothing that makes you look like you belong. For example, wear a lab coat in a hospital setting or a hard hat at a construction site.
- Wear clothing that suggests you are a different gender.
2
Disguise your face. Change the way your face looks to remain undetected.
- Use make up to make yourself look older or younger. ^{[4]
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- Buy colored contact lenses to change your eye color.
- Use dark glasses to obscure your face.
3
Make smart disguise choices. Not all disguises will work in all situations.
- Make sure to choose a disguise that makes sense. Do not dress as a fisherman to spy on someone in an office setting, for example.
- Simple disguises can work just as well as complicated ones. ^{[5]
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- You don't need to have every single detail right but make sure you get the main things correct. A firefighter would not wear sneakers in uniform, for example.
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Understanding the Law

1
Know the laws in your community. The federal government and local authorities have laws regarding recording people.
- Federal law allows conversations to be recorded if at least one person knows of the recording. However, some states have laws that require all parties in the conversation to be aware of the recording. ^{[6]
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- It is almost always illegal to record a conversation if you are not a part of it. ^{[7]
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- Recording law enforcement is legal in some circumstances, as long you are not interfering with their ability to do their job. ^{[8]
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- It is illegal to photograph someone without their permission where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as in a doctor’s office or in their home. ^{[9]
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- Privacy laws also protect children. ^{[10]
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2
Know the laws regarding following someone. Recent anti-stalking laws have made it a criminal offense to follow someone in some cases.
- If you repeatedly follow someone, you may be reported as a stalker. ^{[11]
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- Every state has some version of an anti-stalking law. ^{[12]
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Community Q&A

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Question

How do I make a spy pen?

Community Answer

You can pass secret notes in a pen just by opening up the top and taking the ink and spring out. Now, you can roll up papers and put them inside to give to a team member.

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Would it be breaking the law if I was recording or spying someone at home without them knowing?

Community Answer

In your own home, no. But it would be an intrusion on the person's privacy. Be careful with these things. If you're going to do it, it's best to do it in public areas and avoid really private places like bathrooms and bedrooms. And it would be best not to do any recording of anyone unless you're secretly recording while you're actually with them.

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What would we write in our notebooks?

Community Answer

You would write observations on events, suspicious activity, and people, and record the time, date, and location of the observation.

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Tips

When making your own spy gear, always test it before implementing it in surveillance. Failed equipment or disguises can expose your secrecy.

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Do not use any equipment that may harm someone.

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Pack light; lots of gear will slow you down, and packing light will let you fit in small spaces and look less suspicious.

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Warnings

Following someone secretly can be dangerous and is, in some cases, illegal. Private investigators are licensed and trained professionals. Be aware of the risks and requirements involved before spying.

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How to Make Spy Gear

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Using Spy Equipment and Technology

Changing your Appearance

Understanding the Law

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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