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OREM — A disturbing crime in an Orem home electronics store has police warning people to be wary of people who they feel are invading their personal space.
On July 12, a woman shopping at the Best Buy store at 309 E. University Parkway claims a man used his cellphone to snap pictures underneath her skirt. Monday, Orem police released several surveillance images from the store in hopes of identifying the man.
"She was looking at some laptops and felt something brush up against her leg; and the she heard the sound of a shutter noise, like on a cellphone," said Orem Police Sgt. Craig Martinez.
Then came a horrifying moment for the 19-year-old woman, as she was shopping at the Orem Best Buy.
"She saw there was someone standing behind her with a cell phone under her skirt," Martinez said. "She quickly brushed it away and turned around and looked at the man, and he was leaving the store pretty quickly."
The woman immediately called police and reported what happened.
"She was hopeful she hit the camera way before he was able to take a picture," Martinez said. "Nobody likes being a victim, especially to a crime like that."
Police caught the peeping Tom — at least on camera — on store surveillance. They say he's a man in his mid- to late-20s, and was quite brazen in trying to secretly take intimate photographs.
In this day and age, technology makes it easier for predators to violate our privacy, often times without us even knowing it. Police warn people to be careful about anyone trying to invade your personal space and report anything suspicious to police.
"We've seen guys with cameras attached to their shoe, so we've seen this before," Martinez said, "but nothing close enough that it brushes against the victim's leg."
Now police hope the store's surveillance photo will keep the man from victimizing someone else.
"Chances are this isn't the first time, and it's not going to be the last until he gets caught," Martinez said.
If you recognize the man, call the Orem Department of Public Safety at 801-229-7070. When he is caught, officers say the man will face lewdness charges.
