Experiment with different types and shapes of glasses to see which one works best for your purposes. If you have an iPhone, you can download the Amplitude Pro app and hold the iPhone to the glass against the wall. This app allows you to hear distant sounds much more clearly, but it also records and saves the amplified noise.
Once the glass is in place, put your ear to the bottom of the glass. Continue to move the glass on the wall if you can’t hear well.
Don’t expect to hear too much through the hole alone. In fact, a plain hole in a wall seriously hinders sound transmission. Try to pick a time when your neighbor is out to drill through the wall. Otherwise, they may well notice the sound or debris from the drilling.
Try using a common household item, namely plastic wrap. In fact, the scientists who conducted the initial study used plastic wrap themselves. [3] X Research source
For even better results, try this method in conjunction with the first. Put a glass over the top of the hole and plastic membrane. Be aware that drilling a hole in the wall has very clear disadvantages, especially as regards secrecy. Your neighbor might hear the drilling; she might see the hole; or she might notice the drill debris on the floor and become suspicious. Use with care!
You can typically find a stethoscope at your local drugstore for about $10. The quality of the stethoscope is unlikely to make much of a difference. [4] X Research source You will also need microphones. Stereo multimedia microphones are preferable, as they are cheap (around $15) but have fairly good sound specifications. That is, you should be able to pick up sound with them pretty easily and with fair quality. [5] X Research source Finally, you will need to have an MP3 player to record sound as well as a 3. 5mm (mini) Stereo Y-adapter cable. The cable will be quite cheap, about $3 or $4 dollars. The MP3 player will be the most expensive item if you do not already own one. Keep in mind that it must be able to record, which probably means that you will need a newer model (many older ones do not record but only play music). [6] X Research source
A good tool for doing this is an X-Acto knife. It will make a clean cut through the outer parts of the microphone and let you get to the innards. You should be left with 2 mics and 3. 5 mm connectors (the cabling).
Next, gently drill shallow holes into each of the plastic earpieces to a diameter that matches that of the microphone housings. The size of these holes needs to be exact, as the microphones must fit squarely inside of them. A power drill or grinder can give you the desired precision. [8] X Research source Glue the microphones inside the earpieces. Put a dab of glue around the edges of the microphone housings and then insert them into the holes that you have just drilled in the stethoscope earpieces. Reattach the earpieces back to the stethoscope and let the glue dry.
Plug the single stereo connecter in to an MP3 player. Your spy stethoscope should be ready to go now.
The situation is important. In England, for instance, a man rescued his elderly neighbor from a robbery by listening through the wall with a glass. [10] X Research source In his situation, spying was definitely justified. Things are rarely so clear cut, however. You should probably not act if you have any doubts about the situation. If you decide to go ahead, make sure that you know the possible consequences of your actions.
Your state may have a “one party consent” or “two party consent” law. One party consent means that it is illegal to eavesdrop unless you have the consent of at least one of the people engaged in a private conversation. In two party consent you must have permission from both parties to listen, record, or amplify their communication. [12] X Research source Take the state of Michigan. Michigan has a two party consent law – you must have permission from all parties in order to “overhear, record, amplify, or transmit any part of a private discourse. ” This applies even in your own home. Eavesdropping there is also a felony. [13] X Research source
In Michigan, the penalties for illegal eavesdropping are up to 2 years in prison, up to $2,000 in fines, or both. [14] X Research source In California, eavesdropping is either a misdemeanor or felony. As a misdemeanor you face up to 364 days in jail and a $2,500 fine; as a felony, you could spend up to three years in prison and a $2,500 fine. [15] X Research source Of course, a criminal penalty is not the only bad outcome. You also open yourself to a civil lawsuit for violating someone’s privacy, which could be costly and run into the thousands of dollars. Even if you escape legal consequences, you could have a very angry person on your hands.
