I need to hack an air tag into an Echo Pop power supply...

[Invincible Sugar]

Someone at my work has stolen two internet radios I have set up in the break room. The first one going missing, I just assumed someone moved or misplaced it. But now that it's happened twice I am thinking someone is stealing them.

 

There are no cameras in our breakroom, the only way I can find the person stealing these is to bait them with another that I can track. The echo devices are too tightly integrated to hide an air tag inside the speaker itself, but I am thinking I can buy a 3rd party power adapter and hide the air tag in that. The echo pop stolen today was taken with the power adapter, probably because I superglued the two parts together to prevent the speaker from falling away if it got knocked off the table. So presumably if the new one is also superglued to the power supply it will be stolen with the cord and all too.

 

I don't know much about this kind of thing. Like, I know I can't just stick something metal in a power supply, I will need to be careful to insulate the air tag from the electronics in the box. But I don't know how to find a good option that has a bigger shell than the guts inside, I don't know if maybe there is a market for things like this, FBI, CIA, crafty husbands or wives do this sort of thing, hiding cameras in power adapters, so maybe there is some product on the market that deliberately includes space for this?

 

Or maybe someone who has already done something like this before could give me some advice? Thank you so much!  

[Poinkachu]

14 minutes ago, Invincible Sugar said:

Someone at my work has stolen two internet radios I have set up in the break room. The first one going missing, I just assumed someone moved or misplaced it. But now that it's happened twice I am thinking someone is stealing them.

 

There are no cameras in our breakroom, the only way I can find the person stealing these is to bait them with another that I can track. The echo devices are too tightly integrated to hide an air tag inside the speaker itself, but I am thinking I can buy a 3rd party power adapter and hide the air tag in that. The echo pop stolen today was taken with the power adapter, probably because I superglued the two parts together to prevent the speaker from falling away if it got knocked off the table. So presumably if the new one is also superglued to the power supply it will be stolen with the cord and all too.

 

I don't know much about this kind of thing. Like, I know I can't just stick something metal in a power supply, I will need to be careful to insulate the air tag from the electronics in the box. But I don't know how to find a good option that has a bigger shell than the guts inside, I don't know if maybe there is a market for things like this, FBI, CIA, crafty husbands or wives do this sort of thing, hiding cameras in power adapters, so maybe there is some product on the market that deliberately includes space for this?

 

Or maybe someone who has already done something like this before could give me some advice? Thank you so much!  

No idea what kinda power supply you meant.

 

If it's those small sized power bricks
what's stopping you from buying a bigger enclosure box/junction box, stick the power supply and the airtag in it, superglue / epoxy glue everything.

 

https://www.amazon.com/JIUWU-125x51x150mm-Aluminum-Enclosure-Amplifier/dp/B07KYDVH4T/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1L6UT0MWBCFP5&keywords=power+supply+enclosure&sprefix=power+supply+enclosure%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-9

 

https://www.amazon.com/Gratury-Stainless-Waterproof-Electrical-290×190×140mm/dp/B08282SQPT/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1L6UT0MWBCFP5&keywords=power%2Bsupply%2Benclosure&sprefix=power%2Bsupply%2Benclosure%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-8&th=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/JIUWU-Enclosure-Electronic-Amplifier-97x40-5x130mm/dp/B07KYGZTFK/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1L6UT0MWBCFP5&keywords=power+supply+enclosure&sprefix=power+supply+enclosure%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-7

 

https://www.amazon.com/a15102300ux0430-165mmx120mmx68mm-Enclosure-Electronic-Project/dp/B019I89TKG/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1L6UT0MWBCFP5&keywords=power+supply+enclosure&sprefix=power+supply+enclosure%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-6

[dizmo]

US I'm guessing?
Just making sure, because if you're in Canada that's illegal.

[Invincible Sugar]

12 minutes ago, Poinkachu said:

No idea what kinda power supply you meant.

 

If it's those small sized power bricks
what's stopping you from buying a bigger enclosure box/junction box, stick the power supply and the airtag in it, superglue / epoxy glue everything.

 

https://www.amazon.com/JIUWU-125x51x150mm-Aluminum-Enclosure-Amplifier/dp/B07KYDVH4T/ref=sr_1_9?crid=1L6UT0MWBCFP5&keywords=power+supply+enclosure&sprefix=power+supply+enclosure%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-9

 

https://www.amazon.com/Gratury-Stainless-Waterproof-Electrical-290×190×140mm/dp/B08282SQPT/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1L6UT0MWBCFP5&keywords=power%2Bsupply%2Benclosure&sprefix=power%2Bsupply%2Benclosure%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-8&th=1

 

https://www.amazon.com/JIUWU-Enclosure-Electronic-Amplifier-97x40-5x130mm/dp/B07KYGZTFK/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1L6UT0MWBCFP5&keywords=power+supply+enclosure&sprefix=power+supply+enclosure%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-7

 

https://www.amazon.com/a15102300ux0430-165mmx120mmx68mm-Enclosure-Electronic-Project/dp/B019I89TKG/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1L6UT0MWBCFP5&keywords=power+supply+enclosure&sprefix=power+supply+enclosure%2Caps%2C362&sr=8-6

Thank you, I really appreciate the advice.

 

I am assuming the same person will steal the new one, so if I modify it too much they might realize it's different and not steal it, so I won't know who is doing this.

 

It comes with something like this:

 

If I replace it with something like this, they might be fooled:

 

But if it's a totally different sort of thing they will know something's up.

 

[Invincible Sugar]

2 minutes ago, dizmo said:

US I'm guessing?
Just making sure, because if you're in Canada that's illegal.

Yes. Arizona specifically. 

[Invincible Sugar]

6 hours ago, Caroline said:

My question is why did YOU set up radios at your workplace? shouldn't the company buy that kind of stuff?

Money. I work for a luxury 5 star resort that does not care about us employees at all. Not even enough to buy a $15 Alexa device.

6 hours ago, Caroline said:

And why 'internet radios' and not a regular one? less likely to be stolen.

Won't work. AM/FM does not reach the breakroom or most of the property due to the mountains.

6 hours ago, Caroline said:

perhaps set up a hidden camera somewhere? somewhere it catches both the radio and guy's face, no use if it only catches him from the back or top.

My plan right now is to use a 3rd party shelf to mount the speaker to the side of the lockers right next to the desk where I had this speaker previously. I already got permission from the person who uses the locker I would need, and the locker already has holes cut in it which will work perfectly for what I want to do, no need to permanently alter anything like the wall, table, etc.

 

The shelf has a pocket to store excess cable, that is where I will put the air tag. It also protects the power connector so no one can unplug the speaker again. I will use epoxy and/or super glue to permanently attach the speaker, air tag, power cable and shelf all into one new contraption so if someone wants to remove it they have to remove the whole thing, including the air tag. No ability to remove just the speaker.

 

The other end connecting to the power strip will be duct taped so it can still be unplugged but not quickly, to discourage people messing with it. And if a future manager decides they don't like this, the speaker can still be removed without any damage to the locker or other furniture. 

[FlyingPotato_is_taken]

On 10/6/2023 at 5:42 AM, Invincible Sugar said:

The other end connecting to the power strip will be duct taped so it can still be unplugged but not quickly,

I smell a electrical code violation.

In Europe this would be illegal. 

[Invincible Sugar]

On 10/9/2023 at 4:04 PM, FlyingPotato_is_taken said:

In Europe this would be illegal. 

It's only illegal if you get caught c:

[FlyingPotato_is_taken]

@Invincible Sugar As long as nothing happens nobody cares.

If two rooms further (completely unrelated) a toaster catches fire and the fire inspector ordered by the insurance company finds this it is a big deal.