No pat downs. They *gasp* profile.
See, when you say they profile - it has a different meaning that the typical meaning over here in America. Profiling in America means 'what colour/creed are you' whereas over there, a profile is a set of answers to common but well placed questions. It is much more intensive and requires much more training for the profilers. Not saying I am against real profiling over here, but the likely outcome would be a mismash garbage where brown people are terr'ists
How did they get that evidence without a court order? Getting the court order for the data from the electric company should require some other evidence right?
Some police agencies have tried overflying neighborhoods and noting infrared hot spots. A home that is pumping out "too much" heat may be the tip off. Note that warrants do not require the same burden of proof as conviction at trial, warrants only need "reasonable" cause. Like odors, IR leaking into the public domain needs no warrant.
Maybe you are not in the United States, but that type of "through the wall" sensing would be considered a search here - even written by numb nuts Scalia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyllo_v._United_States
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