"Criminals are always looking for the next tech that gives them an edge and know immediately when the police can exploit it." Some, but the vast majority of cr

"Criminals are always looking for the next tech that gives them an edge and know immediately when the police can exploit it." Some, but the vast majority of criminals do not put that much effort into their crimes, and among those that do, most wind up botching things. When criminals gravitate toward a system law enforcement agencies have trouble with it is more survival of the fittest than active planning. Law enforcement fought to keep stingrays a secret for two reasons: pressure from the manufacturer, and a desire to avoid public scrutiny (which is likely the reason the manufacturer pressured them to keep it secret). The police would greatly prefer that the general public not spend too much time thinking about stingrays to avoid the risk of a stricter warrant process being required. It is also helpful if judges and defense lawyers are not familiar with the device and do not know what questions to ask.