Spy Tips on Booby Traps, Memory, and more…
Forging an intelligence file is always tricky. Spies are trained to catch even tiny inconsistencies, from outdated typeface to the wrong kind of thermochromatic ink. Even the folder needs to be picture-perfect, because the fact is, spies do judge books by their covers.
An effective booby trap not only needs to look like a good hiding spot, it also needs to leave your enemy incapacitated. A well-placed 50-gallon oil drum should pique your target’s curiosity. And a portable defibrillator packs enough punch to make their heart skip a beat without stopping it entirely. Wire the defibrillator to a convincing decoy, and whoever comes looking will be in for a shock. Connect a camera wirelessly through an internet phone provider, and you’ll be able to keep an eye on your trap from anywhere in the world, without having to pay long distance.
Spies spend plenty of time with sociopaths and criminals. But sometimes it’s even more dangerous to hang out with their victims. Letting your emotions get the best of you can threaten the entire operation.
To create a blank spot in someone’s memory, you need to be equal parts drinking buddy and amateur chemist. First, you need the target to party enough to make your story believable the next day. At the same time, you need to gauge their tolerance so you can combine just the right amount of alcohol with just the right amount of pharmaceutical assistance.
When your surveillance is about to be blown, you have two choices. You can run, or you can stay put and make it look like you have a reason to be there.
There’s an art to building a listening device that’s meant to be discovered. It’s not enough for it to look like a bug. It needs to have a fatal flaw to make sure someone finds it, like a high-frequency transmitter that causes ear-splitting feedback when placed near other electronics.
Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid charging into a building filled with angry men with guns. If going in is your only option, you choose the best place to stage an ambush, lock and load, and get your enemies to come to you.
Police breaching techniques generally involve removing a door by its hinges or knocking it open with a battering ram. Military breaching techniques are more aggressive. They don’t just try to get by the door. They use it as a weapon.