The field of private security is built on a mix of strong foundational principles and state-of-the-art technology, which over the last century has come from some rather unusual places and rather unusual people.

The first home security system ever made was created by Marie Van Brittan Brown, a nurse and inventor from Queens, New York, but nearly four decades before this, a rather unusual and prolific pioneer managed to invent the most foundational technology behind it.

Electronic Music And Electronic Security

Born in the Russian Empire in 1896, Leon Theremin is far better known for the electronic instrument that bears his name, but alongside his musical achievements, Mr Theremin was a prolific inventor in the fields of spycraft and security.

He developed the first motion detection system, and during the time he was working on showcasing his invention outside of the Soviet Union, he was also developing an early mechanical television system from 1925 until 1927 under the auspices of the Council of Labour and Defence (CTO).

Compared even to John Logie Baird’s television, it was an exceptionally primitive system, with a resolution of just 100 lines and relied on a manually operated scanning-transmitting camera.

However, the technology was spotted by Kliment Voroshilov, one of the Five Marshalls of the Soviet Union. He saw potential in the device as a potential security system and promptly commandeered the technology.

After it was showcased to Sergo Ordzhonikidze, Semyon Budyonny and Joseph Stalin, all high-ranking Soviet officers and the head of the USSR itself respectively, the invention was approved and installed outside of the Kremlin in Moscow to keep a close watch on visitors.

There was no way to record video until the 1950s, so the system had to be constantly monitored by a team and lacked the fidelity of modern closed-circuit systems. However, the principle being installed and actively used as early as 1927 was an incredible feat.

Leon Theremin, however, was not in the country to celebrate or be recognised for this accomplishment.

He went on a tour of Europe and left for the United States, patenting and focusing on the theremin itself and working on security equipment for the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

However, by 1938 Mr Theremin would return to Russia in mysterious circumstances. 

At the time it was believed he had been abducted by Soviet officers and smuggled back into the USSR. However, it turned out he had tax issues in the USA and opted to head back home rather than face them.

He spent time working in the gulags at Butyrka Prison and the Koylma gold mines, before working for the gulag’s secret Sharaska laboratory.

Here, he would make his final contributions to security and espionage, by creating a low-power laser microphone that could be used for eavesdropping, as well as a bug fitted into a replica of the Great Seal of the United States that managed to remain hidden and active for seven years before it was accidentally discovered by a radio operator at the British Embassy. 

He would ultimately outlive the Soviet Union itself, dying at the age of 97 in November 1993.