Virginia

Fairfax County Fitting Room Filming Suspect Faces New Charges

A 39-year-old man is accused of using a tiny camera to film more than 60 women and girls in fitting rooms

A man suspected of filming dozens of women and girls in store fitting rooms in Fairfax County, Virginia, now faces three new charges.

Mumtaz Rauf, 39, is accused of using tiny cameras to film at least 60 women and girls in store fitting rooms in at four different shopping centers, police said.

He was arrested Wednesday and was being held at the Fairfax County jail, with bond set at $7,000, Maj. Edward O'Carroll said at a news conference Wednesday.

Rauf was charged with two misdemeanor counts and one felony count of unlawful video taping.

Police believe he filmed the women and girls at the Forever 21, Gap, H&M and Old Navy at Fair Lakes Promenade, Fair Oaks Mall, Springfield Town Center or Tysons Corner Center between Dec. 15 and 24.

Rauf was initially arrested and charged with a felony for unlawful video taping on Dec. 24, when police responded to a report from a young woman who saw a black device pointing down from the wall of her dressing room.

Police say that case led to a larger investigation in which detectives were able to identify two women and one female juvenile victim. All three victims contacted the Fairfax County Police Department and believed they were recorded in December.

The first victim to contact police said she was inside the Forever 21 store at about 4 p.m. on Dec. 24 wen she believed photos might have been taken of her, police said.

A store employee then saw a man leave the store and officers found the suspect inside a dressing room of an H&M store nearby.

Police said they found over 100 videos of at least 60 women and girls in states of undress.

Police urge anyone who believes they may have been filmed to contact Fairfax County police immediately.

"If you were shopping at the Forever 21 store, GAP, H&M or the Old Navy between Dec. 15 and Dec. 24, 2018, my detectives want to hear from you," O'Carroll said.

If you think you may have been a victim of illegal filming, call police at 703-246-4600, text police at 703-718-5806 or email the police task force.

Spanish-speaking call takers are available. Accommodations for other languages can be made upon request. 

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