Sugar Land police searching for man took photos up woman's skirt

SUGAR LAND, TX (KTRK) -- Sugar Land Police are looking for a man responsible for taking pictures of a woman's private parts from underneath her skirt, a practice known as "upskirting."

A 41-year-old woman told police it happened while she was shopping at 99 Ranch Market on Highway 6 in Sugar Land on August 19.

Police spokesman Doug Adolph said security video shows a heavyset male with long black hair taking pictures from underneath a woman's skirt with his cell phone.

"He took his time. He positioned the camera in a way that looked like he knew what he was doing," Adolph said. "We think he's done it before, and it's likely he'll do it again."

Shoppers said they have heard of this kind of crime before but never so close to home.

"I'm shocked because I've been here a long time," Lisa Chan said. "I shop here twice a week but never heard of such an experience."

Attorney Eric Devlin runs a digital forensics company. He said there is a big online market for upskirting pictures.

"Once they go up there, they're never coming down," Devlin said. "There have been successful lawsuits where they sue groups who are publishing these pictures, and all that happens is that website comes down, another one comes up."

A victim can only hope the suspect is caught before the photos end up online.

If you have any information about the suspect in the surveillance video, call the Sugar Land Police Department at 281-275-2540 or Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at 281-342-TIPS.