Charges filed after family finds hidden cameras in short-term rental

SO MUCH. >> GOOD NEWS THERE. AND TONIGHT WE’RE HELPING YOU PROTECT Y PRIVACY. >> IF YOU’D LIKE TO STAY IN AN AIRBNB OR VRBO. WHAT HAPPENED AT A WISCONSIN RENTAL HOME WILL CATCH YOUR ATTENTION. HIDDEN CAMERAS WERE DISCOVERED IN A HOUSE IN MADISON, AND TONIGHT THE HOMEOWNER IS IN TROUBLE. >> ERIC SHIRLEY SPOKE WITH A TOP SECURITY EXPERT AND FOUND OUT YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF FROM HIDDEN CAMERAS. AND IT STARTS WITH YOUR CELL PHONE. >> YEAH, LINDSEY AND KEVIN, THE CAMERA ON YOUR CELL PHONE COULD HELP YOU SPOT A HIDDEN INFRARED CAMERA. WE’LL SHOW YOU EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT. JUST A MOMENT. NOW, IN THE WISCONSIN CASE, A PLACE WHERE YOU’D EXPECT PRIVACY IN THE BATHROOM AND SHOWER IS WHERE POLICE SAY THOSE CAMERAS WERE FOUND. A YOUNG FAMILY ON VACATION, STAYING ATAT THIS MADISON AREA. SHORT TIME RENTAL HOME MADE A CHILLING DISCOVERY AFTER FINDING A TINY HOLE IN A BATHROOM OUTLET. THESE COURT DOCS ALLEGE THE GUESTS THEN LOOKED, SAW THERE WAS A CAMERA IN THE OUTLET COVER WITH A MEMORY CARD ATTACHED, LOOKING CLOSER, THE CAMERA THAT CLEARLY LOOKED TO BE SUPER GLUED TO THE BACK OF THE ELECTRICAL PLATE. THE HOMEOWNER WAS ARRESTED MORE THAN A WEEK AGO AND CHARGED WITH FELONY INVASION OF PRIVACY. >> THIS IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY OUR SENSITIVE CRIMES UNIT. UM BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WERE STAYING AT THIS PROPERTY. >> WHAT IS SCARY IS THAT WE ONLY HEAR WHAT WHAT GETS REPORTED, WHAT GETS DISCOVERED. SO HOW MUCH ISN’T GETTING DISCOVERED? >> MIKE OLSON IS A FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT AND NOW PRIVATE SECURITY EXPERT. >> PEOPLE DO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, BE AWARE THAT THAT’S THE STARTING POINT, IS BE AWARE THAT THIS KIND OF THING CAN HAPPEN AND TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. >> LOOKING IN A BEDROOM OR BATHROOM, OLSON SAYS, IS A GOOD PLACE TO START FOR HIDDEN CAMERAS. SO THAT’S WHERE YOU WOULD START. FIRST, SOME OF THOSE REMOVABLE OBJECTS LIKE AN ALARM CLOCK, A PICTURE FRAME, CHARGERS, OUTLETS, VENT COVERS. >> YEAH, YOU BET. ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE IN VIEW TWO OF, SAY, A BED OF THE OF THE BATHROOM ITSELF OF THE SHOWER. >> HE SAYS Y YOUR PHONE COULD BE USED TO FIND THE INFRARED SIGNAL FROM SOME CAMERAS. IF YOU LOOK AT THE WHERE THE WHERE THE SIGNAL IS BROADCAST, YOU CAN’T SEE ANYTHING. >> YOU CAN’T SEE ANYTHING WITH THE NAKED EYE. >> HE USED A TV REMOTE WITH A SIMILAR SIGNAL TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THE NAKED EYE CAN’T SEE THE LIGHT. BUT TURN ON YOUR PHONE’S CAMERA AND NOW YOU CAN SEE IT. >> IF I PUSH THAT BUTTON, YOU SEE THE LITTLE RED LIGHT SHOWING UP THERE. SO THEN YOU CAN USE YOUR PHONE IN THE DARKNESS, IN A HOTEL ROOM OR A RENTAL ROOM OR WHATEVER, AND SCAN SOME OF THOSE CONCERNING AREAS LIKE VENTS OR TILES OR SMOKE DETECTORS, HE SAYS. >> USING A FLASHLIGHT CAN ALSO HELP YOU CATCH A REFLECTION OF A HIDDEN CAMERAS LENS. >> IT’S ONE MORE TOOL YOU CAN USE THAT’S FREE, THAT TAKES YOU JUST A FEW MINUTES TO CHECK YOUR ROOM. >> WE CHECKED THE TWO TOP SHORT TERME VACATION RENTAL COMPANIES BOTH HAVE STRICTRILLIONULES RESTRICTING THE USE OF INDOOR CAMERAS. THE WISCONSIN HOMEOWNER THAT WAS CHARGED RETURNS TO COURT NEXT MONTH. ANSWER TO THAT FELONY

Dunn County prosecutors charged a 42-year-old man from Verona with one felony count of invasion of privacy.
Story: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/charges-filed-after-family-finds-hidden-cameras-in-short-term-rental-expert-offers-tips-on-how-to-spot-cameras/

42 comments

  2. Bring your own router with you with your personal WiFi pre configured, set your ip schema, interface with and set up your own network.
    Firewall configured As well.

  4. Not surprised. Many have done this. Just like when your told, your call might be recordered and used, they should disclose to people that rent, that they have cameras. I get they do it because many abuse the rules and even have distroyed or caused damage to properties.

    But definitely, the renters should know about these cameras. Good for them for filing a lawsuit. I would be extremely upset and feel violated. And it's creepy! They need laws for these places! That's why? I have never rented any Airbnb, etc. We've rented a huge house on the beach in Myrtyle Beach, Outer Banks, Martha's Vineyard, Malibu, Napa Valley and Sonoma.. But these are upscale and reputable places and no hidden cameras! And the prices are not cheap so they know the people renting these places? Are not some looh sers that are low class and would resort to any type of behavior where they don't abide by the rules or cause damage to the property.

  6. As a short rental host I find this totally discusting and these freaks need to be prosecuted to the full extent of the law not only with jail/ prison time but sued into financial oblivion.

  8. Everybody that has ever stated in that residence needs to suethat guy for invasion of privacy and if children have stayed there he needs to be charged with being a pedophile

  11. This is just an idea.. but what if the tenants put the camera there themselves so that they can get 15 minutes of fame and more realistic that they could file a civil lawsuit against this wealthy property owner. What would stop someone from doing that. And how would the property owner defend himself against I'm not saying that's what happened. I just like to look at what the other side of the story could be

  12. Reminds me of the chilling incident where a teacher hid multiple cameras in a schools girls changing room, and it was only the fact a kid was using their phone, that they caught the light from a locker, told their parents who immediately contacted the authorities.
    Just some advice, if your kids get thrown into a situation like that or worse, id advise them to call their parents first from somewhere safe. Thats because years back I got away from people doing worse, and went to police first, and unfortunately those officers were in on it so brought me right back so my parents wouldn't find out for years what took place, and by then most of those criminals had been long dead, but got to live a free normal life!

  13. Here is the governments chance,hmm government, anyway, make an example out of this person. They need to come up with a good deterrent that sends a big message.

  17. In morocco, 99% of hitel rooms have hidden cameras.
    They're put in place by the government secret services against hotel owners' will.

  26. Should have played an elaborate prank knowing they was watching on cams so would tell on self calling cops seeing you act as trashing the place or killing someone

  37. I usually take a laser pointer with me and scan the room especially the air ducts. If there's a camera in the room that will redirect and reflect the light from the laser pointer.

  38. My last in town suite had these tiny blue lights at night in the corner of the walls. I thought I was paranoid. But now I know 🤬 sounds right with my nosy family

Comments are closed.