EXCLUSIVE: Hidden camera found in Starbucks washroom in Toronto’s financial district
Posted May 9, 2018 4:39 pm.
Last Updated May 10, 2018 10:43 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Starbucks Canada has confirmed to CityNews that Toronto police have launched an investigation after a hidden camera was found in the washroom of one of their coffee shops in the financial district, at the corner of Yonge and King Streets.
A customer told the store’s manager there was a camera in the electrical outlet in one of the unisex washrooms at the Starbucks at 4 King St. W. on May 2.
“Our records indicate as soon as the partners were notified of the device, they contacted police immediately,” Starbucks spokesman Tim Gallant told CityNews. “The police showed up the next day to collect the device.”
Toronto police originally told CityNews they were not notified about the hidden camera until 24 hours after it was discovered, but they now confirm Starbucks did call them about an hour after the device was found.
Officers went to the store the next day and collected the camera.
“Employees regularly clean and stock the washrooms multiple times a day,” Gallant said in a statement. “Employees are told if they notice anything or are alerted to anything unusual to immediately report it to police.”
No notices informing the public about the hidden camera have been put up at the Starbucks location. When asked about why they haven’t notified the public, Starbucks Canada would not comment and deferred any questions on the subject to Toronto police.
The spokesman said they have alerted other managers in the area and no other recording devices have been found.
A Starbucks employee posted a screenshot online of a message from a Starbucks managers’ chat group that acknowledges a recording device was found in the washroom.
The employee told CityNews they posted the message after becoming “concerned” by the company’s failure to notify the public.
