Hidden cameras found in restrooms at Northside Social in Virginia

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — Police have launched an investigation after discovering hidden cameras in the public bathrooms of a Virginia restaurant.

Cameras were found in two public restrooms at Northside Social on Park Avenue in Falls Church.

On May 11, a customer noticed a pen-like device hidden under a sink facing the toilet in one of the restrooms on the restaurant’s first floor. The customer handed the device to the employee.

Det. Jesse Ortiz told WUSA9 that the woman was actively looking for something suspicious after reading an Instagram post advising people to be wary of cameras in public restrooms.

“She went and notified the company and they took the camera, checked the adjacent bathroom and found the exact same pen in the other bathroom,” Ortiz said. “It’s definitely a happy coincidence.”

“There is a plastic cover on the sink pipes,” he added. “It was simply inserted like an ordinary pen that you put at the end of paper or a notebook. It just hung like that.”

The police were notified about the devices on May 13. Officers then went to the restaurant to investigate and recover the devices.

Detectives say the hidden devices included cameras that recorded footage of people using the toilet. Ortiz does not believe the footage was solely on the device and was not connected to the Internet.

“I’m terrified,” a Northside Social customer told WUSA9. “I think every time we use public facilities it makes me more aware and more careful with myself and my family. Everyone goes about their daily business and we shouldn’t worry about such things.”

Police say the footage was recorded on Saturday, May 11 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Anyone who may be a victim and was recorded illegally is asked to contact Falls Church Police at [email protected].

Ortiz said they haven’t ruled out it was a customer or employee.

Liberty Restaurant Group issued a statement in response to the devices found in one of its restaurants: “We are very upset that someone entered one of our restaurants and attempted to invade the privacy of our customers and staff. We will continue to help attorneys enforce the law in every way we can. The safety of our clients and staff is our top priority.”

“It’s disappointing that this is the society we live in today,” said another customer. “As far as the owners are concerned, I don’t think they have any real responsibility or accountability because how can they control it? How do they know if a patron will do this?”

As the investigation into hidden cameras continues, police are urging business owners and their customers to remain vigilant and be on the lookout for similar devices.

Here are the tips they give:

• Look out for unusual items that seem out of place, such as smoke detectors with small holes, fake air fresheners, or oddly shaped decoy items that can hide the camera.
• Check common hiding places such as electrical outlets, tissue boxes, or under tables and sinks.
• In low light conditions, look for small red or green LEDs that may indicate that the camera is in night vision mode.
• Use your phone’s flashlight function to look for reflections from hidden camera lenses, sometimes hidden in sockets, clocks and smoke detectors.

If you suspect there is a hidden camera in a public space, please prioritize your safety and privacy by discreetly leaving the area, and then report your concerns to the Falls Church Police Department by calling the non-emergency number at 703-241-5053.

Do you have any tips for this or any other story? We want to hear from you. Tell us about it by emailing [email protected].

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