SUNRISE, Fla. – Two Georgia women had a terrifying encounter at Sawgrass Mills Mall on Monday when their relative says they spotted someone attempting to record them in a fitting room.
Natanael Villalobos, who says he is the father and uncle of the victims, claimed the incident occurred at H&M, where the fitting rooms on the men’s side were closed, forcing all customers to use the fitting rooms on the women’s side.
The alleged victims, aged 19 and 22, said they noticed a man standing behind them in line before entering the fitting room.
Villalobos, who was visiting with his family from Georgia, told Local 10 News that the victims were changing when they noticed something strange and their privacy being invaded.
“My daughter happened to look up and saw a phone camera sticking out above the top wall of the dressing room,” he said.
One of the women allegedly attempted to snatch the phone, but it fell back into the other stall. “When they opened up the curtain, my niece said she saw the guy doing something on his phone, maybe trying to delete.”
“My daughter asked the man, ‘Were you recording me?’ and he said, ‘No, I’m married,’” Villalobos added.
The women called police and a store employee told the man to leave the premises, according to Villalobos, who also said he rushed to the scene after receiving a call from his daughter.
“My initial reaction was just being very mad,” he said. “Even the officer told me I needed to calm down a little bit.”
Sunrise police confirm they were called to the mall that day, and that the incident is under investigation
Villalobos said he is urging Sunrise police and mall security to work together to help identify and apprehend the culprit.
He described the alleged voyeur as a slim, bald white man who appeared to be in his 40s.
Local 10 News has reached out to Sawgrass Mills Mall management, Simon Malls, for comment.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call Sunrise police at 954-746-3370 or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.