Police have charged a 32-year-old Maroochydore man with 36 offences after investigations into a man allegedly filming people in their homes without their knowledge.
Under Operation Xray Pelham, detectives from the Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), assisted by the Crime and Intelligence Command (CIC) Sexual Crime Unit, worked together after the execution of a search warrant at a Maroochydore home on 10 February this year allegedly uncovered child exploitation material.
Also, allegedly found during the search, were photos and videos of about 40 people that had been unknowingly filmed in their homes from late 2021 to February 2025.
Sunshine Coast CIB Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Robert Lowry said though work is ongoing to identify the remaining people, he’s pleased with the current result.
“I appreciate this is a confronting incident for people living in Maroochydore and appreciate the community’s cooperation as we completed our thorough investigations,” he said.
“Detectives will continue to prioritise the privacy and well-being of those affected.
“People should not have to fear a breach of privacy in the comfort of their own home, so I’m pleased that we have a result and justice for those impacted.”
Through doorknocking and extensive investigations, police have identified 23 people featured in the recordings, including four children, all residing in Maroochydore.
Police will allege the man filmed people from outside their homes, largely through windows, on his mobile phone.
A 32-year-old man was arrested at a Maroochydore address on Wednesday 7 May, and charged with 36 offences including 29 counts of observations or recordings in breach of privacy, five counts of indecent treatment of children under 16, and one count each of indecent treatment of children under 12 and stalking.
He has been refused police bail and is due to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 8 May.
Police believe there are about 17 people yet to be identified in photos and videos and police continue to appeal to anyone with information to contact police.
