One Boot Barn customer had a scary experience.
In a viral video, Ady (@adytroxell) films a dusty air vent with a small red light coming from it in a Boot Barn bathroom. She then films a technician seemingly removing the device that emitted the light.
“Boot barn you almost had a lawsuit headed your way,” she writes in an on-screen caption. In the video’s description, she continues, “This is your sign to always look around before you go to the restroom tho!!!” She indicates that she initially believed the device to be a camera with the hashtags #hiddencam and #hiddencamera. However, she also adds the tag #notacamera, indicating that the device was not what she at first believed.
In the comments section, user Karma Lou wrote, “That was a duct detector I bet ya,” to which Ady responded, “Yep!”
What is a duct detector?
According to Jackson Systems & Supply, “These devices monitor air movement in ductwork and activate an alarm or shut down the system if smoke is detected, helping prevent the spread of smoke and fire through ventilation systems. Duct detectors are essential for compliance with fire codes in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, offering an early warning system that enhances occupant safety.”
What should I do if I find a hidden camera in a place where I should expect privacy?
While the device in the bathroom Ady went to was not a hidden camera, one user said a hidden camera was found in the bathroom of a store they visited.
“Happened at a Firestone auto near here a few years ago,” user Big Daddy Lamb said. “One of the employees plugged a fake phone charger camera into a outlet in the women’s room. Luckily one of them realized what it was and reported it.”
Norton notes, “In the U.S., it is illegal for someone to use a spy camera in areas where you have the right to expect privacy, like bathrooms, dressing rooms, and bedrooms. And Airbnb has banned the use of hidden security cameras in all its listings globally.”
@adytroxell This is your sign to always look around before you go to the restroom tho!!! #bootbarn #hiddencam #hiddencamera #stayaware #notacamera ♬ original sound – Johnny Tsunami ?
If you happen to find a hidden camera in one of these places, follow these steps:
- Cover the camera but do not remove it
- Take photo and video documentation of the camera
- Leave the location if you feel unsafe
- Call law enforcement and file a report
- Report the camera to the company where it was found
The Mary Sue contacted Ady via TikTok comment and direct message. It contacted Boot Barn via email to its public relations representative.
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