A hidden camera was found in a Starbucks bathroom in Southern California by a mother and her 5-year-old son recently, and now authorities are investigating.
"My son used the restroom first and I used the restroom after him," the woman, who didn't want to be identified,
told KTLA. "I noticed he was staring at the sink a little bit perplexed. I asked him what was wrong and he said, 'Mommy, why is there a phone under there?'"
The woman said she was soon horrified to find a cell phone under the sink propped up by brown paper towels.
Without touching the phone, she left the bathroom and informed the Starbucks' employees, who in turn contacted police.
"It’s such a violation of privacy. Not only of mine, but my son," she added.
Lt. Joseph Fender with the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station told reporters that, "The deputies discovered that the cell phone was running in a video-recording motion."
Fender said the investigation is ongoing, and declined giving further details.
A Starbucks spokesperson reached out to reporters, and provided a statement regarding the incident.
"We are disturbed by this incident and take our obligation to provide a safe environment for our customers and partners (employees) very seriously. Our store partners took swift action as soon as they became aware of the incident by immediately alerting the Sheriff’s Department of the situation," it read.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.