MARSHAll, Wis. — It’s far too often we see headlines showing hidden cameras found in hotel rooms, locker rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms, among other places.
Private investigator Nick Waite is ready to help put a stop to that.
Waite said criminals often use the video or images taken from hidden cameras and “either market them on the dark web for money or use them for their own voyeuristic pleasure or use it for blackmail.”
Waite founded the Overlook Investigative Group to help business owners search for hidden cameras that may have been placed in their space without knowing it.
“It’s nationwide and also a worldwide problem,” he said.
Waite has been working on this project for the past three years. In 2018, he conducted a market survey that showed 73% of the public is concerned about being watched by hidden cameras. After collaborating with consultants and investigators in other parts of the country, he’s ready to offer his expertise to businesses in Wisconsin, and eventually expand nationwide.
“The business doesn’t know when I’m coming,” Waite said. “Because if they have an employee that is placing a camera, and it’s usually someone that has access to certain areas repeatedly. We don’t want to forewarn we are coming because they could take the camera down.”
Waite said he will also train staff members of that business to search for hidden cameras on their own. Any business that wants to work with Waite will have an emblem placed on their storefront window or door showing that the place is randomly searched for hidden cameras to protect customer privacy. Waite said cameras can be found in any object including smoke alarms, vents, USB chargers, garment hooks, alarm clocks, etc. He added this is most common in areas where the public has a great deal of access to like school bathrooms, locker rooms, hotel rooms, Airbnb’s, public restrooms, etc.
“We only hear about the cases that are found,” Waite said. “We never find what we’re not looking for.”
Business owners interested in having this service can contact Waite through his website here.
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