PSA: Fremont by El Camino, older man taking creeper photos and hurried away when called out

PSA: older, hefty man, no taller than 5’6″, white hair and wearing a K-95 white face mask with a large canvas bag was taking creeper photos with professional camera and cell phone, Friday, 10/3, 7:15 PM, in between El Camino and Sfingday on 35th St.

Not sure if he’s in this area all the time or this just happened to be his spot tonight. I was walking passed El Camino on 35th going towards Evanston to make a left towards PCC, the man was taking photos of me (woman) as I walked towards him. Of course, I was distracted on my phone and not fully registering what was going on. Figured he was just getting photos of the nightlife and doing a hobby thing. As I got closer, he put his professional camera away and proceeded to follow me. Because he followed me, I turned around to ask him if he was taking photos of me, I caught him with his cell phone in hand like he was taking MORE photos. He immediately put it away and mumbled something about two cameras and kept hurrying away as I told him that wasn’t comfortable with that. He grumbled something else as he hurried into the alley by the PCC garage.

Wish I had been a bit more confrontational and returned the favor by taking photos, but I was just minding my own business, texting my friend and trying to decompress. The more I thought about it, the more it felt he was being creepy. No one was on the sidewalk and it was dark, so it felt pretty intentional and his hurrying away when called out is a giveaway. Sharing this out of frustration as well.

Be safe. And keep an eye out for this man and where his cameras pointing. And stay alert, we all know this and we all know phones are the worst.