British anti-theft briefcase, 1961

From a 1961 British Pathe newsreel called "Beat The Bandit", a remarkable anti-theft system for a briefcase:

As the man runs off with the case three telescopic poles spring out of it making the case impossible to manage, as well as crushing the man's hand pressing it into the handle of the case. It then has to be unlocked and deactivated with a key!

Amazing Anti-Thief Security Case! (via Schneier)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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Ceronomus

Taht would stick it right up the TSA’s Jaxie! It might even be worth the inevitable follow-up arrest.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_R62O2BU6ZLHDFCQUMFFMSC2BOI Geoffrey

Unfortunately, thieves figured out a clever work-around by saying, “If you activate the security system on this briefcase, I’ll still have one free hand to shoot you with, asshole.”
- mccrum
  
  It’s England, guns don’t exist!
  - http://www.nathanhornby.com/ Nathan Hornby
    
    Well, back then at least.
http://www.facebook.com/postelwait Cameron Postelwait

just don’t forget and grab your briefcase in a hurry.
Brainspore

Reminds me of the security measures in Eric Cartman’s trapper keeper.

One big design flaw: get robbed on a crowded train platform and you’ll likely take out three innocent bystanders along with the crook.
- PapayaSF
  
  And these days, the inevitable lawsuit brought by the thief, claiming injury to his hand.
http://twitter.com/MrAaronSwainEsq Aaron Swain

I’ll bet the thief could still manage to beat you to death with that thing.
planettom

Seems like there were several SPY VS. SPY cartoons with devices along these lines.
Hegelian

Great idea :-p And it isn’t like those explosively launched arms could injure bystanders or the victim :-0
Hanglyman

Looks like those things shooting out would maim lots of innocent bystanders, take up a lot of space inside the case, and make it pretty heavy.
vattenpipa

Aaw, c’mon. Stop being so negative!
It’s from a time where childlike innocence and not being required to think three steps ahead were prioritized.
I think it is amazing in it’s awkwardness!
technobach

My question is how much space is left for putting stuff worth three-pole security
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_OAUXAA362EXWLYVMPJOKLFB5JQ Incipient Madness
  
  Quite a lot. Didn’t they say it could hold twenty thousand in fivers?
Antinous / Moderator

It’s the luggage version of the pear of anguish.
- petz79
  
  Oh, God.
  
  Everytime I think I know every possible torture instrument that exists, someone posts a link like that. Never heard of that and hopefully never will hear of it again.
xzzy

Kind of makes me long for the days when thieves had no rights. Booby traps such as this are the best thing ever.
V

I like this one better….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNE4jHzNDaE
- http://www.nathanhornby.com/ Nathan Hornby
  
  What the hell is that video?
  
  It’s like some kind of Japanese arms dealer advertorial…
Jake Bjeldanes

Reminds me of “Crunch Frog,” the Monty Python sketch.

Praline: Well why don’t you move into more conventional areas of confectionery, like praline or lime cream; a very popular flavour I’m led to understand. (superintendent enters) I mean look at this one, ‘cockroach cluster’,(superintendent exits) ’anthrax ripple’. What’s this one, ‘spring surprise’?Milton: Ah – now, that’s our speciality – covered with darkest creamy chocolate. When you pop it in your mouth steel bolts spring out and plunge straight through-both cheeks.Praline: Well where’s the pleasure in that? If people place a nice chocky in their mouth, they don’t want their cheeks pierced. In any case this is an inadequate description of the sweetmeat. I shall have to ask you to accompany me to the station.
- http://twitter.com/beep54orama B E Pratt
  
  I MUST HAVE A LINK TO THIS, YOU SILLY PERSON OR WHATEVER YOU ARE!!!
  - robuluz
    
    Here is your link
    
    Please imagine I wrote some snarky comment about googling it yourself underneath.
http://nelc.livejournal.com/ NelC

I remember seeing this on Tomorrow’s World, I’m sure. As I wasn’t born until 1961, it must have hung around as an idea for at least another five years or so. I always thought it was kind of neat, though an indelible dye pyrotechnic is probably more effective.
- http://twitter.com/beep54orama B E Pratt
  
  But the dye thing is so boring compared to this ;-)
irksome

Ah mid-60′s British engineering, from the people who brought us Lucas electrics and Amal carbonators… and if you’ve ever owned a British motorcycle, you’ll know that that is NOT a typo.
- Beanolini
  
  you’ll know that that is NOT a typo.
  
  What, ‘carbonator‘? I think it is.
bridgham

It would be great to know if this thing still exists somewhere.
Paul Bowen

I wish I could go back a couple of minutes and not know what a pear of anguish is.
:(
- Antinous / Moderator
  
  I recommend the club of forgetfulness. Possibly in combination with the cocktail of oblivion.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/George-Tomorrow/100000059681060 George Tomorrow
  
  I opened the “pear of anguish” link in a new tab, and was planning on getting to it when I finished reading the comments.
  
  Having seen your comment, I decided to remain in the dark, and have closed the tab.
- http://www.nathanhornby.com/ Nathan Hornby
  
  Could be worse – they could put it somewhere other than your mouth.
tyr

Is it just me or does “back room boys” sound like an incredibly camp 90′s style boy band ?
- Beanolini
  
  Maybe you’re thinking of Backstreet Boys. It puts me in mind of Marlene Dietrich.
  - Antinous / Moderator
    
    That was my first thought. Tell them I died of the same.
TheMudshark

Imagine having this suitcase and no one ever tried to steal it. What a bummer.
Paul Renault

Am I the only person who wonders who the “How to Stay Slim” woman is?

And whether she ever tore a tendon from over-strenuous exercise.
Angryjim

Oh lord I love that technicolor.
http://www.youtube.com/user/Freethinkersanon Christopher

I’m amazed that I seem to be the only person who wants one of these just so I could have fun setting it off. I can even imagine hilarious carrying it through my office, setting it off when several people are looking (but a safe distance away) and saying, “Wow, it’s never done that before.”
coop

In Stargate, a rod slams through your shoulder as someone else tries to put it back…
http://www.facebook.com/duncantoms Duncan Toms

Reminds me of Licky Kicky the Home Security Dog

So who makes it?
I’m glad you asked. It’s Reeves & Mortimer.
Sorry, who?
That’s Reeves & Mortimer.

http://youtu.be/Ylx-PUjcK-o