Stories like this make my blood boil. A guy was caught taking photos of a woman's skirt at a Target store. Let's give a big shout out to the woman who called it and filmed it.
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Voyeurs and technology go hand in hand, you know where. They use everything from smartphones to hidden cameras to get their fix. Fortunately, I am at your side to ensure your safety and that of your loved ones.
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Workaround
On an otherwise ordinary day in Greenville, North Carolina, a woman went to her local Target. She noticed a 21-year-old man receiving a little too close for comfort – crouching on the floor next to her.
When she moved, so did the man. Then she noticed her cell phone on the ground. That's when it clicked: she was wearing a skirt that day, and this guy was trying to slide his phone under it to take a photo.
Caught red-handed
Another Target shopper also spotted the creep. She began filming the voyeur after noticing him following the victim around the store. She captured him putting his phone on the ground and posted it on social media.
Surveillance cameras on display outside a home security store in Markham, Ontario, Canada, June 24, 2023. (Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Ultimately, it was this video that led to the voyeur's arrest.
Of course, when the police arrested him, he denied everything and happily handed over his phone. Cops got a search warrant to dig deeper, and luckily they didn't find any inappropriate photos of children.
The voyeur was released on bail and his fate now rests with the courts. He also won't be returning to his job anytime soon. Where did he work, you ask? A primary school.
Protect your privacy
Whether you're on an errand or on a Target vacation, a peeping tom could be hiding you. Stay safe and smart with these tips:
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- Any public place is fair game for a creep. Be aware of your surroundings wherever you change clothes, including fitting rooms, hotel rooms and gyms.
- Be on the lookout for cameras. Red flags include suspicious wires and tiny flashing lights. Cameras can also be hidden behind objects such as wall decorations, lamps and shelves.
- Mirrors are hot spots for cameras. To check for them, turn off the lights in the room and shine your phone's flashlight at the mirror.
- Don't forget to check the toilets too. Cameras could be hidden behind seats and fuel tanks.
- For an extra layer of protection, invest in a hidden camera detector and keep it in your purse. If you want to go the free route, there are also hidden camera detection apps for iPhone and Android. Don't expect stellar results.
What about rentals? Yes, you need to check there too
I once found a dozen cameras in a house I was renting, but they were only disclosed in the fine print at the bottom of the list. It was clear they wanted me to miss this warning.
Given all the media coverage regarding hidden cameras spotted in rentals, I'm not surprised that Airbnb simply banned indoor cameras. If anything, I'm shocked it took this long.
Checking out a small closet is one thing. Making sure your entire rental property is creep-free is a bigger task.
The Xiaomi Smart Camera C500 Pro is shown at the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Spain on March 8, 2024. This latest surveillance camera from the Chinese company has intelligent detection capabilities for pets, baby sounds or noises strong. (Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Here's how to find them
Larger cameras are easy to spot, but anyone can easily hide smaller cameras behind furniture, air vents, or decorations. An easy way to spot most types of cameras is to look for lens flare.
- Turn off the lights and slowly scan the room with a flashlight or laser pointer, looking for light reflections.
- Scan the room from multiple locations so you don't miss a camera only pointed at certain locations.
- Inspect vents and any holes or gaps in walls or ceilings.
You can also get an RF detector. This gadget can pick up wireless cameras that you might not see. Unfortunately, RF detectors are not suitable for wired or recording-only cameras. For those, you'll need to stick to the lens thinking method.
If you can connect to the rental's wireless network, a free program like Wireless Network Watcher shows which gadgets are connected. You may be able to spot connected cameras this way. I do this in every rental I stay in, just to check what's connected to the network.
The Google Nest Cam, an indoor and outdoor smart security camera developed by Google's home security brand, is on display on Android Avenue at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, March 25, 2024. (Joan Cros/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Be aware that the owner may have placed the cameras on a second network, or they may be wired or recording-only, so this is not a security option.
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