HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) - Henrico Police arrested a man they said took photos under a woman's skirt inside a West End store. Daniel Crews, 32, is charged with filming/videotaping an undressed person, according to Henrico Police spokeswoman Lt. Linda Toney.
Toney said police arrested Crews about 6:30 Monday evening at a store along the 5400 block of West Broad Street. Police sources told CBS 6 the incident took place at the Target store in the Libbie Place Shopping Center.
Police said store security notified them that Crews was snapping pictures under a woman's skirt.
In an email to CBS 6 about the incident, Target's corporate offices stated they worked with law enforcement on the alleged crime and that "the safety and security of our team members and guests is a top priority."
According to crime prevention experts, keeping someone from invading your privacy is never an absolute, but taking precaution can help
"If someone gets close to you and you feel uncomfortable, step away from that person," said Cpl. Scott Gordon with the Chesterfield County Police Department. "Especially, if they have a device in there hand like a cell phone or a thing that could have a camera on it."
Gordon said remaining aware of your surroundings while shopping and not getting "tunnel vision" is the first step to avoid being victimized.
With the advent of smart phone technology, most people have access to high resolution cameras with just one click. Legal experts said the number of "unskirting" cases over the past few years has increased.
Legal expert Todd Stone noted the first time a suspect is convicted of inappropriately photographing a stranger without their consent, the suspect faces serious jail time. However, even though the act is considered a sex crime, the convicted is not placed on the sex offender registry, according to Stone.
"It has to be a third offense in order to be put on the sex offender registry for this type of offense," said Stone.
Most of the crimes that land a person on the sex offender registry are felonies, and first offense "upskirting" crimes are misdemeanors, Stone said. The process is a legislative issue that only lawmakers can change, he added.
Crews has only been charged in the alleged incident, and has the right to due process. Stone said if convicted though, Crews could face up to one year in jail.
