Crime and Justice International Magazine - Sam Houston State University

Eco-terror Technology Advancements

Recent government action aimed at taking down a cell of environmental and animal rights activists from the extremist groups Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Earth Liberation Front (ELF) has spurred public interest into the activities and technologies of such underground movements. Eleven members of ALF and ELF have pled guilty in the northwest United States to 17 counts of arson, vandalism, and violence, and are currently awaiting sentencing. The eco-terror movement began in 1970s England with a small group of individuals impeding fox hunts, and has grown into an international effort of autonomous cells sharing a common ideology. New splinter groups, most notably Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC), formed alongside these two main groups as disagreements between members surfaced as to which tactics to use. As the movement grew and became more complex and diverse, so did the technology used to intimidate, discourage, and defeat their ideological enemies. The tactics used by the movement were primarily aimed at financially hurting animal testing labs, construction and lumber companies, and restaurants which slaughtered and sold animal parts. They achieved these objectives by destroying company property, shutting down operations, and intimidating employees. The main goal of eco-terror groups is to harass and intimidate businesses into closing all connection to animal testing or anything deemed detrimental to the environment. Vandalism is the most common way eco-terrorists harass these businesses, and they have developed some quite interesting techniques. Besides the frequent use of spray paint on buildings, groups use a technique called toothpicking, which involves jamming a toothpick or hairpin into the exterior locks of a business. This method prevents the business owner or manager from opening the business until the lock is cut off; most external locks are of such a strong nature that the removal often involves a cutting torch. Similar to toothpicking, super glue may be poured into the locking mechanisms, which prevents the lock from properly unlocking. Another method, often used in popular fast food restaurants which slaughter animals for meat, is known as a toilet bomb. A toilet bomb is made by taking a large sponge and soaking it in water; once the sponge is fully soaked, a rope or string is tied around the sponge numerous times and in several directions in an attempt to make the sponge as small as possible. Once fully dried, the string is removed and the sponge stays compact and is then flushed in the public restroom of the business; as the sponge expands in the piping, it shuts off all water flow. The only way to restore water is to manually remove the sponge by breaking the toilet and piping.

Probably the most destructive and deadly technique is the use of petrol bombs. The infamous ALF figure, Rodney Coronado, has demonstrated how to construct this device in front of college students in auditoriums across the country. It involves a gallon-size jug of gasoline, a cork or sponge, matches, and a cigarette or incense stick. The fuse is created by wrapping the matches around the filter side of a cigarette or the bottom of an incense stick. The cigarette or incense stick is lit and, when the burning portion reaches the matches, the bomb detonates. It is a very risky procedure ,and several eco-terrorists have been burned attempting this method. The use of petrol bombs has been the root cause of up to $40 million dollars worth of damage in the United States alone. Environmental activists have even been known to fill light bulbs with gasoline which explode when lit. Tree spiking is a technique that has been around for some time and involves a 10-inch metal spike that is driven into trees randomly in a timber forest awaiting harvest. Loggers’ chainsaws will virtually explode when a metal spike is hit, sending the chain thrashing off. To counter tree spiking, logging companies now send employees with metal detectors through the forest marking safe trees before cutting begins; eco-terrorists have responded to this development by using ceramic spikes which are undetectable.

All of these techniques are designed to hurt companies financially. Eco-terror groups target specific companies and organizations because of ideological differences. Many groups will use violence as warnings for companies to discontinue certain behavior, such as animal slaughtering, tree logging, animal testing, and urban sprawl. These underground efforts have resulted in the loss of millions of dollars and numerous personal injuries and deaths. Law enforcement must stay abreast of new techniques and technological developments used by these groups to prevent and detect criminal activity.

Auto Theft Technology

Auto theft is a growing market that transcends nations, borders, and continents. The past days of joyriding car thieves are over and have been replaced with organized criminal groups stealing cars for profit and shipping them out of the country. Interpol reports that car theft rings earn approximately $19 billion in profits each year. In the United States, it is estimated that a vehicle is stolen every 26 seconds. With only a small percentage of freight being checked by customs agents and the high demand for stolen automobiles and cars, it is not difficult to transport stolen vehicles across borders.

The technology used to steal cars is also growing and adapting to the use of anti-theft security products. The most common car burglaries used to be “smash and grab” jobs where the criminal would smash the window with a hard object and steal either the car’s contents or the entire car. Car thieves have now developed several methods, some very low-tech, to increase their target success and limit detection. One of the most basic techniques is breaking car windows with the ceramic from a spark plug instead of using a hard object like a brick. The ceramic is relatively quiet and completely shatters the window in one attempt. The Club, a steering wheel locking device, has done little to curb car theft as criminals simply cut through the steering wheel and remove the device. A SlimJim is a tool that slides into the door frame via the window and is able to unlock the door, allowing entry.

Thieves are also using some of the same technology that locksmiths use in their daily routines. The most common method once inside the car is to break the steering wheel column lock and break the ignition lock with a screwdriver as the key, or cross the ignition wire with another to start the car. Older cars fall victim to this type of theft frequently although newer cars have developed more effective anti-theft precautions. The LoJack system has been around for some time and is an effective method for police to recover stolen vehicles. Recently, GPS tracking systems have been developed along the same lines as LoJack and allow vehicle owners to track their car’s movement in the event of a theft. Criminals have not been deterred by these technologies: they simply leave the cars in an unpopulated area for a cooling off period to see if the car is being tracked. Immobilizers are being put into effect in many of the newer models of vehicles, which disconnects the vehicle’s fuel supply, ignition, and starter. A chip, or transponder, in the owner’s key disables the immobilizer and allows the vehicle to start. Again, thieves found a way of avoiding this deterrent by retrieving the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and the owner’s personal information and contacting the automaker for a new key. Other criminals break into the home of the car owner and steal the key with the transponder. A common convenience on new cars is the keyless entry code system mounted near the door handle. The encrypted code can be defeated by a laptop using a de-encryption program designed to try various combinations until the right one is found. One new security device that may make car theft problematic is the Secure Identification Device (SID). SID uses biometric fingerprint technology to secure a vehicle and can store up to 21 finger prints and also has the option of a PIN number as well. Criminals have yet to find a way to defeat this new system, but with the desire for stolen cars by foreign markets, it’s only a matter of time before criminals find a way around this technology.

Auto theft has been a concern of law enforcement since the creation of the automobile; as criminals develop new techniques, law enforcement must respond to prevent thefts and capture criminals. In the last 15 years, auto and security companies have developed several tools to prevent auto theft; many criminals have found techniques around these new measures, resulting in a constant struggle between the competing technologies.

The ability of criminals to think ahead, beyond, and around security measures through the use of technology will continue to advance. The private sector has attempted to raise the bar on current security technology to counter theses threats. It is difficult for law enforcement to stay aware of new technology developments that criminals use in their endeavors, although this awareness helps counter and prevent criminal activity. Although some of these techniques may not seem too technical or advanced, they have eluded law enforcement and have aided criminals in their illegal activities.