BrickHouse Security Blog

BrickHouse Security provides security and surveillance products to consumers, businesses of all sizes including roughly half of the Fortune 500, and more than 500 local and national government agencies such as the NYPD, LA County Sheriffs, and the FBI. To help its customers protect what they care most about, the company offers a range of leading-edge safety, protection, GPS tracking and counter-surveillance products. BrickHouse Security’s industry-leading experts seek to be the go-to source for all of its audiences’ needs by providing timely information through the company’s informative blogs and content, and by identifying, developing, and selling quality products that represent the best and the latest in safety and security. The company is headquartered in New York City and serves a diverse US and international client base.

Whether you’re a home owner looking to secure your home, a parent concerned about what is going on with their teen’s online activity, or a security professional who is looking for the scoop on the latest technology, this blog is all about being a useful resource for you. We’re here to help keep you informed, which comes naturally to us since our operations are wrapped up in obsessing about the best ways to use technology, combined with good judgment, to keep both your family and business safe. On a daily basis we’re proud to bring you the latest security news, gadgets and scoops from around the world - as well as trips, tricks, and safety how-tos that will make your lifestyle more secure so that you can sleep better at night.

Our contributors

Todd Morris

Todd is the CEO of BrickHouse Security. He founded the New York City-based firm in 2003 after an impressive 15-year career in the software industry, where he worked for such visionary companies as Apple, Adobe and MapQuest, leading the development of custom technology for large clients. When he was charged with finding or developing a GPS tracker and panic button for use in law enforcement, his quest uncovered a broader demand for location-based security, from affordable child locators for family use to easy-to-use GPS tracking systems for teen and employee monitoring. While continuing the development of the complex solutions required by the government and a fast-growing list of security-minded corporations, Morris launched BrickHouseSecurity.com, a consumer- and small business-focused Web site, to provide access to hard-to-find security products for professional and personal use. The site launched to immediate success in 2004, and has seen over 200% growth each year since its inception. In early 2008, he launched BrickHouse-ChildSafety.com to meet the needs of concerned families who want to better protect their children.

The security product he can’t live without: Todd is always leaving his keys behind, as a matter of fact he totally despises keys in general. After all, they are an antiquated. Instead, he uses a Fingerprint Door Lock to enter and exit his home.

Bing Chen

Bing Chen is one of the founders of BrickHouse Security so she has built up years of knowledge in the world of safety technologies. Bing also oversees the Human Resources department as well as day to day corporate operations to keep everything running smoothly. But first and foremost, Bing is a mother who prioritizes her child’s safety on top of everything else. Consequentially, she understands how just how essential family safety is and she knows first hand what tools and methods can be the most effective when it comes to keeping your family members - especially minors, safe.

The security product she can’t live without: The BrickHouse Child Locator, because it gives her peace of mind when she is out with her 2 year old, that he can never wander off too far without her being alerted.

Jason Lazarus

Jason Lazarus is the director of Marketing at BrickHouse Security. Aside from overseeing all of the public relations and marketing efforts, Jason also spends a good deal of his time discovering the latest and greatest security technologies. Jason is also heavily involved in the research and development process of our in-house technologies, overseeing everything from concept to production. We like to think of him as our resident Q. He also works hands on with law enforcement professionals and government agencies to determine what are the most efficient tools to meet their demanding security needs.

The security product he can’t live without: Jason uses the Mega Mini Spy Camera Pro for interviews and to record meetings, so that later on he can thoroughly go over what the client spoke about.

Helena Stone

Helena is the Social Content Multimedia Manager at BrickHouse Security where she is involved in the BrickHouse Security blog operations and other social media presences like Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Helena has experience working in the digital marketing and interactive design field, and if you’re a technology enthusiast, chances are you are familiar with her blog Chip Chick. She is also an out and proud gadget geek who loves playing with the latest 007 spy gadgets that comes through BrickHouse Security’s doors. From the perspective of being a twenty-something woman living alone in New York City, Helena also understands how important is to use the right tools to stay safe. Whether it’s traveling on the subway or securing your apartment, there is no room for being careless.

The security product she can’t live without: The Air Ionizer which she uses to keep watch on her vacation home when she is away.

Lydia D. Leavitt

Lydia D. Leavitt

Lydia is blog’s Editor in Chief. Originally from Boston (yes, she’s a Red Sox fan!), Lydia began working in the technology niche for a live mobile broadcasting company before moving to New York City to join the BrickHouse Security team in 2007. At BrickHouse, Lydia manages and implements all aspects of writing copy for new products, press releases, as well as the company’s social media ventures. An avid thrill seeker, Lydia loves swimming, traveling, water skiing, hiking, and exploring New York City - making her need for security products that much more important.

The security product she can’t live without: The Little Titan DVR Camera Kit because with it she can record all of her adventures on land or in water. Perfect for the extreme sports enthusiast.

Douglas Schubert

Douglas Schubert

With a unique background in Red Dragon Stealth-Fu Douglas Schubert used to moonlight as a local East Side security Ninja, where he would mysteriously locate and return the stolen pocket books to previously burgled maidens. Drawing on nearly a millenia of collective meta-knowledge, Douglas was the East Side’s white-light of pocket-book safety. Unfortunately after realizing that freelancing as superhero, though spiritually fulfilling, wasn’t nearly as lucrative as corporate bloggin’ Douglas gave up his alter-ego and rejoined the business community using the meta-knowledge he acquired as a do-gooder. Douglas is now BrickHouse Security’s in house superstar social media consultant. Douglas is responsible for the uber-scientific BrickHouse Security blogging game, as well as the exceptionally sophisticated BrickHouse Security Twitter feed. With skills that range from power blogging, ultra book-facing, and hyper-speed tweet-blasting, Douglas has swiftly become a multi-media demi-god in the BrickHouse Security realm.

The security product he can’t live without: The X-Ray Spray. Douglas admits that when he first heard of the X-Ray Spray, he was more than just a wee-bit skeptical. With a quick spray of the… spray, any paper or envelope was to instantly become transparent. Moreover the proprietary solution was to evaporate completely within a matter of seconds and it leaves behind no evidence.

Daniel Atkinson

Daniel Atkinson

Danny is a marketing intern at Brickhouse Security and a junior at Fordham University, where he is studying history and communications. He is originally from central Connecticut and got interested in writing as a possible career through his love of reading and sports, as well as through his experience as an editor on Fordham’s student newspaper The Ram. Danny enjoys the friendly vibe at BrickHouse Security and how the BrickHouse Security Blog has challenged his style of writing. He is a diehard Red Sox and baseball fan who loves a good book or movie, and also enjoys all the culture NYC has to offer, especially if it’s free.

The security product he can’t live without: Danny can be a very unorganized person and is constantly misplacing and losing his keys, among other things, so the USB Fingerprint Lock is a lifesaver for him.

Amy Ramirez

Amy Ramirez

Amy is a sophomore at Yale University and is currently working on the Brickhouse Security blog this summer.  She is a staff reporter for the Yale Daily News and is currently learning how to read hieroglyphics. In her free time she loves to read, shop (shoes and sundresses especially), and write.  She is obsessed with CSI, NCIS and Law and Order, and is relieved to report that at any given hour during the day on at least two channels, one of the three shows are always playing.  She is thrilled to be working for a company that provides the GPS tracking devices and a myriad of other helpful nicknacks like those used on her favorite law enforcement dramas.

Jimmy Bosch

Jimmy Bosch

Jimmy is a marketing intern at BrickHouse Security and also a senior at Baruch College, where he is studying creative writing and journalism. He is originally from the Bronx and became interested in writing as a possible career through his love of poetry and music. Jimmy is passionate about anything creative, whether it be fashion, art, or film making, and he is always looking for new outlets to showcase his creative endeavors.

The security product he can’t live without: Being a poet Jimmy loves the DVR Camcorder Pen Camera Recorder - the ability to record himself when reading and writing prose comes in rather handy when he doesn’t have a peace of paper near by.

Stan Shyshkin

Stan Shyshkin

Stan is a social media intern at BrickHouse Security and a student at Baruch College where he is majoring in Marketing and minoring in Psychology. He also does a bit of Internet marketing, has an avid interest in social media, and loves to travel. On a regular weekday you will find him working hard either in school, or at work, but on the weekends it’s time to relax, cut loose a bit and maybe travel somewhere to hangout with friends.

The security product he can’t live without: The DVR Spy Sunglasses w/ Audio since he can go out somewhere, or travel and record what he does for later memories without having to walk around with a camera in his hands the whole time.

Allen Sarfraz

Allen Sarfraz

Allen, our public relations intern, is a junior at New York University where he is studying Journalism. He has a passion for keeping on top of the latest news stories, and he is always coming to us with great ideas. An avid James Bond fan, Allen can often be found playing around with our spy gadgets - lets just say that Allen has found his Q in BrickHouse Security.

The device he can’t live without: Allen is obsessed with the Spark Nano Real-Time GPS Tracking Device because he figures that as long as he has one attached to his car, we’ll be able to find him - should he get kidnapped by a super villain while saving the world and rescuing a beautiful damsel in distress.

Guest Contributors

Susan Bartelstone

Susan Bartelstone

Years ago, Susan Bartelstone had a bad break-up with a guy, complete with physical and emotional bruises, and determined to learn how to protect herself. Today, she’s a certified Crime Prevention Specialist and Personal Safety expert, with 17 years combined training in WWII Combatives, self defense and martial arts. Along the way, she deterred five extremely dangerous criminal encounters, fought her way out of a surprise attack and, for the past 18 years, has taught safety skills to men and women from such organizations as American Express, the U.S. Post Office and the Livery Cab Owners Coalition of New York. She’s the author of Think Fast and Prevent a Violent Crime: How to Respond to Danger in 20 Seconds (or Less!), which is based on her own experiences, and is also the host of Crime Prevention 101, a personal safety talk radio show where she’s speaks about hot crime and personal safety topics; and give the tips and tactic needed to reduce fear and increase safety. Over the years, she’s helped thousands of people solve their personal safety dilemmas with her Workshops and her practical advice—which stresses the many opportunities you have to avoid or defuse a criminal encounter and how to use your brains instead of your muscles in a fight.

The Personal safety product she can’t live without: Her pepper spray: it’s inexpensive, easy to carry (and conceal), and simple to use. And it can be a real lifesaver! Her favorite model is the JOGGER, made by Sabre, which has an adjustable hand strap so you can attach it to your hand. Download her Tips for Using Defense Sprays to learn how to use them most effectively.

J.D. LeaSure

J.D. LeaSure

J.D. LeaSure, Counter Surveillance Specialist is the President/CEO of ComSec LLC. He founded the Virginia Beach-based firm in 2007 filling the need for an experienced and knowledgeable Counter Espionage and Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) service provider in the greater Virginia/DC Metro area. He launched ComSec LLc to provide bug sweep, eavesdropping detection services to business professionals, government agencies, celebrities, consulting firms, P.I. firms, government contractors, technology development companies and law firms, etc. The organization also implements counter espionage protocols aimed at helping its customers maintain the integrity of their security posture against Corporate, Economic and Industrial Electronic Espionage Threats. J.D. has extensive knowledge of eavesdropping devices, detection methods, and the tactics most often employed by those seeking to steal valuable information. Since its launch, ComSec LLc has enjoyed steady growth and noted a staggering increase in public interest in the counterespionage, counter surveillance segment of the business. J.D. started the Spy vs. Spy blog to educate the public about the law, legislature, emerging technologies, new detection devices and espionage tactics. The blog also provides the public with a source for help should they become the victim of corporate, economic or industrial espionage.

The Personal safety product he can’t live without: I will have to say the “Mega Mini Spy Camera Stick”. I have had one of these in my kit for a long time (I have one of the first ones to hit the states, that i recovered on a TSCM assignment). It is a fantastic little device, extremely discrete and easy to use and a must have for any covert assignment. I have actually used the one that I have to catch a “eavesdropper” in the act of swapping out a DVR “spypen” in a clients office.  It worked great!