If you think the term “Peeping Tom” is only reserved for adolescent boys who hope to catch a glimpse of a woman through a window in her night gown brushing her hair in front of a mirror…think again.  In my 28 years as a Police Officer I have arrested not just adolescent boys but security guards, School janitors, teachers, prominent business men, woman, an attorney and even a Church minister for “Peeping Tom”. 

Definition: “Peeping Tom” is defined in short in Section 647 of the California Penal Code as: “any person who loiters or wanders onto private property and uses a device or way such as; a peek hole, camera, video camera, telescope, binoculars, mirror, standing on an object to gain a better view or moving items out of the way to view into a private area where a person has an expectation of privacy”.

There are many reasons a person becomes a “Peeping Tom”.  For whatever psychological reasons a person is driven to peep into windows it’s very creepy to know someone could be watching you.  It’s a form of stalking and the peeper can be relentless in wanting to view his victims.  The Peeper will travel great distances and go to great lengths to achieve his goal.  He will learn what time you get home, when you eat dinner, when you get ready for bed and when you go to sleep.  He will stand for hours in a bush in the cold and rain if he has to patiently waiting for his victim to come into the room.  If he has had some success in viewing you then he will be there 7 days a week.  This is why it is so important for you to ‘harden the target’ and make it undesirable and impossible for the peeper.

“Peeping Tom” has even become a multi-million dollar Internet business where unsuspecting victims in changing rooms, Hotel rooms, public restrooms, gym showers and in their private homes are being videotaped and then shown all over the Internet in their most private moments.   

It is the design of this article to spark an awareness of this terrible invasion of your privacy and by following these tips you will avoid becoming a victim of a “Peeping Tom”:

Window Coverings

All a peeper needs to see into your room is a small hole or a hair size opening in your blinds and he can view an entire room.  To prove my point take a piece of paper and poke a small hole with a pin.  Hold the paper up to your eye and after your eye adjusts you will be able to see most of the inside of the room.  You can also hold up your hand in front of your face with your fingers together.  Look through the ever so small opening between your fingers and will see everything pretty clearly. 

Drapes and blinds are very important and must cover all areas of the window.  If you have blinds then also install pull down shades.  Make sure your drapes are not see through and if they are you can also install pull down shades.

For extra protection you can cover the inside of the bottom and sides of the window with a 4 to 6 inch strip of matching material so the peeper cannot look under or to the sides the blinds or shades.

Lighting

A peeper’s greatest fear is being caught so he uses the darkness to conceal his activity.  Installing ‘motion detector’ flood lights in the front and rear yards, above or near the windows and anywhere that is open and private so that if anyone walks near the lights will light up the area.

Prickly Plants

Using prickly plants such as rose bushes under and around windows is a great way to keep out the peeper.  There are a variety of prickly plants to choose from which are available at your local nursery.  

Using gravel around window areas also provides a great deterrent because when gravel is walked on it makes a loud noise and the peeper will avoid that area.

Video surveillance

Installing video cameras on the outside of your home is a good idea but you want to make sure the peeper sees that he is being videotaped so make sure you put up warning signs outside and on the inside of your windows that say; “waning these premises are under video surveillance”.  Even if you do not install the cameras just putting the signs up is still a great deterrent.

Start a Neighborhood Watch Group

Your local Police Department will have a Neighborhood Watch program they can help you start in your neighborhood.  The Police Department will send an area Officer to your home to meet with you and your neighbors and help you set up your group. 

A Neighborhood Watch Group has many good benefits that help protect and keep the neighborhood safe.  Each month a Neighborhood Watch meeting is held where everyone gets to know the Officers who work your neighborhood, learn about crime trends and are educated on crime prevention.  The neighbors are also able to advise the Officers about certain problems that are occurring in the neighborhood which will help the Police Department fight crime.  When people work as a partnership with the Police Department crime rate goes down.

One comforting thought about starting a Neighborhood Watch is that everyone watches out for everyone else. 

In today’s day and age it is all about education and learning better ways to protect our homes, our families and our selves.  

Article also posted on Bukisa.com by and eHow.com Kaoss