Orlando, FL (PRWEB) February 23, 2004

Your most private moments are more likely to be secretly caught on film than ever before. Tiny, inexpensive hidden cameras have become an epidemic with over two million hidden cameras in the US according to the security industry. Until now there has been little information available on what to do to protect yourself from this invasion of privacy. Main Street Safety, an internet based company focused on safety information and products, put together a free, step by step guide on how to find hidden cameras, at www.mainstreetsafety.com/camera .

Michael Dorrington was a kindergarten teacher when he asked some of his female students to change into swimsuits in a closet at school. He had a hidden camera recording as the children changed. When parents of the children found out, they were outraged and felt violated.

Stephanie Fuller’s most private moments were secretly video taped. She discovered that her landlord had installed a hidden camera on the ceiling above her bed. He was watching her every move over a three month period before the camera was found hidden in a smoke detector. Since at the time there was no law against video voyeurism in New York State, the landlord was charged with trespassing. Because of cases like this a new law has been passed in the State of New York that makes video voyeurism or the use of secret peeping cameras to invade people’s privacy illegal.

Yet, in most states it is not a crime. In most states it is still legal for someone to secretly film your most private moments, unless they record the sound. Most states have very strict laws against wiretapping, bugging and secretly recording conversations. But video taping with peeping cameras is okay. This includes video taping inside your bedroom, your bathroom, your gym showers, and your children’s locker rooms.

Hidden peeping cameras are used by landlords, ex-boyfriends, neighbors and total strangers. They have been discovered in public and private bathrooms, tanning salons, locker rooms, changing booths in clothing stores, hotel and motel rooms, and even private bedrooms. Often these pictures end up on the internet as a group of college wrestlers were surprised to find. Male wrestlers from Midwest colleges won a $ 506 million settlement in December from porn sites for posting pictures of them showering and changing in college locker rooms.

“Everyday we came across another court case around the country dealing with hidden cameras…in hotels, gyms and public restrooms”, says Tamara Babich, President and Founder of Main Street Safety. “We realized no one was offering help to prevent this type of video voyeurism and decided to do something about it. It was important to us to write this exclusive guide with a hands-on approach to finding these cameras. We give you the tools and the knowledge to fight this illegal intrusion. Your private life is not a reality show.”

How to avoid becoming a video voyeur victim

Hidden cameras are designed to be difficult to detect. Some have camera components about the size of a walnut, where the lens is just a tiny freckle-sized hole. These peeping cameras are virtually impossible to find without a hidden camera detector.

In a recent case cameras were hidden behind one way mirrors in the girl’s locker room at a high school. One way mirrors are easy to spot if you know how. All you need is a flashlight. Take the flashlight and shine it at the mirror in question. Move the flashlight close to the mirror until it is touching the surface. If it is a one way mirror you will be able to see through the mirror to what is behind. A mirror will just reflect the light; you will not be able to see through it. This is one of many tips found in the free guide.

Many companies sell cameras hidden in everything from teddy bears to motion detectors and gym bags. Photographs and descriptions of these and other hidden cameras are covered in the nine page guide. Download your guide today at www.mainstreetsafety.com/camera and start taking steps to protect your privacy.

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