Police are urging shoppers at a North Queensland Bunnings to come forward, after uncovering indecent photographs allegedly taken of multiple girls who were shopping in the store.
A 25-year-old man was arrested near Mackay after the family of an eight-year-old girl came forward.
The girl was shopping with her family at the Bunnings Warehouse in North Mackay on September 5, when it is alleged the man took photos of her.
Officer in Charge of the Mackay Child Protection Investigation Unit, Detective Senior Sergeant Emma Novosel, said the girl's 10-year-old brother spotted the man.
"The child's father then approached the man who denied that he even had possession of a phone," Detective Senior Sergeant Novosel said.
Police alleged, "the pictures were of an indecent nature, they were what we would call 'up-skirting'."
"They were taken in the aisles, there were no photographs taken in restrooms or the like."
Families urged to come forward
The man was arrested at his residence in Ball Bay, north of Mackay, where police executed a search warrant the same day.
Detective Senior Sergeant Novosel said CCTV from within the store, as well as photos seized from the phone, indicate about seven other girls were allegedly photographed.
She said aside from the eight-year-old, the others were yet to be identified.
"I would estimate the girls we're seeking to make contact with are between the age of five, up until around the age of 15," she said.
Anyone who was with female children or teenagers at the North Mackay Bunnings on September 5 between the times of 11am and noon is urged to contact police.
"It's quite possible that these young girls and teenagers would have known that someone was taking a photo of them, the man concerned was so close to them," Detective Senior Sergeant Novosel said.
"We're asking people who were in the store with their children at that time to sit down and have a calm conversation with their children to try and determine whether or not they may be the children we're seeking."
The man has been charged with indecent treatment of a child under 16, possessing child exploitation material, breaching bail, and failing to comply with reporting conditions.
He is being held in custody and is expected to face the Mackay Magistrates Court in December.
