Woman claims drone was spying on her in her apartment

SEATTLE, WA (KTRK) -- A Seattle woman called police to report a peeping Tom, only it wasn't a person at her window. It was a drone.

The woman called police to report a drone was spying on her in her apartment. She said when she looked down, she saw its operator pack up camera equipment into a car and take off.

People who live here at the same apartment complex say they're slightly creeped out.

"It's a little odd, I wonder why it would be flying around and to what purpose," one resident said.

"The good person in me wants to believe it wasn't someone trying to watch me or another person in the building but who knows," said another resident.

Legally, it doesn't matter. The Federal Aviation Administration rules for unmanned model aircraft only addresses air traffic safety, not privacy.

"People do have an expectation of privacy and they should," said Seattle police Detective Patrick Michaud. "But if somebody is outside and they can get a picture of you through your window that's just living in the city, sorry."

Seattle police admit there's not much they can do about drone complaints with one exception.

"If you feel threatened by it or you get hit by it feel free to tell a person hey look that's not cool or you can call police and we can do the talking for you if you wish," Michaud said.