By JONATHON HOWARD
A ‘SELFIE’ image has helped police track down a Noosaville man who was allegedly filming up young girls’ skirts as they walked on Shorehaven Drive, Noosaville.
The man had allegedly dobbed himself in by filming his own face on the hidden camera. A passer by later found the camera and contacted police.
A check of the footage revealed the man had taken the selfie, which provided police with a crucial lead.
The image of the man was released by police on Friday (10 October) and with the help of media and members of the public spread across social media and led to the man’s arrest.
Detectives have charged the 29-year-old Noosaville man with two counts of alleged indecent treatment of a child under 16.
Police allege the man hid a camera at Noosaville at an angle where footage could be taken up the dresses of females.
It will be alleged that two girls, aged 11 and 15, were filmed.
Sunshine Coast Child Protection Unit Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Phil Hurst told media the incidence, known as “upskirting”, had become common on the coast.
“We’ve seen people putting cameras on the tops of shoes to film or people are holding their mobile phones down,” he said.
“It (the camera) was concealed low on the ground with the potential of viewing up the skirts of people, which is what has happened here.”
Police have thanked the public for their assistance in helping identify the alleged offender.
The man is due to appear in Noosa Magistrates’ Court on November 4.
