Exhibit 5.1
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                  SALANS HERTZFELD HEILBRONN CHRISTY & VIENER
                               620 FIFTH AVENUE
                              NEW YORK, NY 10020

                                (212) 632-5500



                                           October 3, 2001



Sensormatic Electronics Corporation
951 Yamato Road
Boca Raton, Florida 33431

Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-8

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          We have acted as counsel to Sensormatic Electronics Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), in connection with the preparation of
a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-  ) (the "Registration
Statement") being filed under the Securities Act of 1933 for the registration by
the Corporation of shares of the Corporation's Common Stock (the "Shares")
issuable upon the exercise of options or pursuant to awards which have been or
may be granted under the Corporation's 1999 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").

          As counsel to the Corporation, we have examined and are familiar with
the Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, its
corporate proceedings taken in connection with the Plan, and such certificates
of public officials and such other corporate records and other documents as we
have deemed necessary in rendering this opinion.

          Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

          1.  The Corporation is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

          2.  The Shares have been duly authorized and, upon issuance in
accordance with the terms of the Plan and the awards or options granted
thereunder, will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

          3.  We consent to being named in the Registration Statement as
attorneys who have passed upon legal matters in connection with the Shares and
we consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration
Statement.

                                    Very truly yours,


                                    /s/ SALANS HERTZFELD HEILBRONN
                                         CHRISTY & VIENER