A suspected sexual peeper allegedly followed a woman through a California supermarket and secretly snapped an upskirt photo — now Irvine police are asking the public to help identify the man accused of the invasive stunt.
“We are looking for a man involved in an upskirt photography incident at the H-Mart at Alton and Culver,” The Irvine Police Department wrote. “The suspect followed a female customer through the store and allegedly took a photo without her knowledge.”
The department publicized the case Wednesday, Oct. 7, as part of its #WantedWednesday campaign, seeking the public’s help in identifying the alleged offender.
The suspect has not been publicly identified, and no charges have been announced. Police have not released a specific date for the incident beyond saying it occurred recently.
The allegation is troubling for a simple reason, shoppers should be able to go about their business without worrying that someone is secretly photographing them beneath their clothing. But investigators still need to establish what happened, identify the person responsible and determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
California Penal Code Section 647(j)(2) addresses certain forms of secretly photographing or recording another person under or through their clothing without consent, when the statutory requirements are met.
A first-offense misdemeanor can carry up to six months in county jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Those penalties are not an announced punishment in this case, however, and authorities have yet to disclose a specific charge against the unidentified suspect.
Any criminal liability would depend on the evidence and the applicable law.
Police also have not said whether the alleged photograph was distributed or whether the man is suspected of similar incidents elsewhere.
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