A simple anomalous reflection in the bathroom mirror triggered fear, then a shocking discovery: a young tenant, renting an apartment in the western outskirts of L’Aquila, found a micro-camera with a wireless transmitter hidden behind the mirror of her home.
In shock, the girl immediately went to the police station to report the incident to the State Police. The agents of the General Prevention and Public Relief Office immediately started investigations and, upon request accepted by the magistrate on duty, carried out a search, including computer searches, against the owner of the property.
An illegal “Big Brother” inside renters’ homes
The check revealed a disturbing scenario: similar cameras had been installed not only in the young woman’s apartment, but also in 12 other apartments in the same condominium, all owned by the man and rented to different tenants. Dozens of wireless microcameras, mostly hidden in bathrooms, formed a sort of illegal “Big Brother”.
On the mobile phone of the owner, a 56-year-old, the police found an application that allowed him to view in real time the images coming from the cameras installed in the girl’s bathroom and in the other apartments.
But it doesn’t end there. During the search, other micro cameras — still packaged and ready to be installed — were found in the man’s car and garage. The officers also found 80 thousand euros in cash, the owner of which was unable to justify the origin.
In light of what emerged, the man was reported for illicit interference in private life (article 615 bis of the penal code). However, the investigations continue: the investigators want to understand whether the espionage activity had been going on for years, whether there are other victims and, above all, how the recorded images were used.
