On October 30, Berkeley Police officers arrested a 35-year-old man suspected of secretly recording women and minors using concealed cameras.
On October 30, Berkeley Police officers arrested a 35-year-old man suspected of secretly recording women and minors using concealed cameras.
The investigation began on October 26, when a teenage girl reported that a man may have been recording videos up her skirt while she was waiting in line at Lox Stock and Bagel restaurant, located at 2043 Allston Way around lunchtime. The victim discovered the concealed camera after inadvertently stepping on the man's foot and noticing a camera pointed toward her.
Following the report, detectives collected evidence from the scene and identified a possible suspect. Using Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology, investigators were also able to place the suspect in the area at the time of the incident.
A significant break in the investigation came Thursday night into Friday morning, when an officer patrolling the area of Durant Avenue and Bowditch Street was approached by a passerby. The person reported seeing a man with a camera attached to his shoe, apparently recording up women's skirts.
Officers located and detained the suspect in the 2500 block of Durant Avenue. During a search of the surrounding area, officers also recovered a mini camera that had been discarded in a nearby trash can.
As the investigation continued, detectives obtained a search warrant for the suspect's residence in Oakland and seized several electronic devices.
The suspect, identified as Noah Stein (a 35-year-old Oakland man) was arrested on suspicion of the following offenses:
- PC 647(j)(2): Invasion of privacy using a concealed video recording device.
- PC 647.6(a)(1): Annoying or molesting a minor.
- PC 135: Destruction of evidence.
Based on the investigation to date, detectives believe the suspect had been frequenting the South Campus area for several weeks and may have secretly recorded additional victims.
Detectives also discovered that the suspect concealed a second, stationary camera inside the Taco Bell Cantina, located at 2528 Durant Avenue, at approximately 11 pm on October 29.
We are urging anyone who was inside the Taco Bell Cantina after 11 pm that night, believes they may have been secretly recorded, or has information about this suspect to contact the Berkeley Police Department's Sex Crimes Unit at 510-981-5735.
Case 2026-00047904
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