Smyrna police are asking shoppers for help tracking down a man accused of secretly recording women inside dressing rooms at two stores along Sam Ridley Parkway on Monday, June 1, and Tuesday, June 2. Investigators say they have pulled surveillance stills and vehicle photos tied to the reports and want anyone who recognizes the man or the vehicles to reach out.
Police: Two Reports Along Busy Sam Ridley Retail Strip
On June 1, officers were called to a retail business in the 800 block of West Sam Ridley Parkway after a customer reported that an unknown man appeared to be taking photos from an adjacent dressing room, according to WKRN. Police say a second, similar report came in the next day from a store in the 400 block of Sam Ridley Parkway. The man reportedly left the first store after he was confronted, and detectives are now working to determine whether the two cases are linked. Store managers and employees have been told to hang on to any security video that could help move the investigation along.
Investigators Share Suspect Images, Ask Public To Spot Vehicles
The Smyrna Police Department has released surveillance stills of the suspect and a photo of a white SUV believed to be connected to the first incident, and officers say they are also searching for a brown or desert-tan Dodge Ram tied to the second, according to Rutherford Source. Investigators say they have already secured security footage from the first store, but are still working to obtain video from the second location. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Steve Martin at (615) 267-5432 or [email protected] and to reference case number 26-003650.
Shoppers Rattled As Police Urge Extra Caution
The reports have left some neighbors uneasy about a routine shopping trip. “You go in there to try on clothes, and now you’re being recorded,” resident Adilene Leyva told WKRN, saying the situation has made her more cautious. Police are reminding customers to flag any suspicious behavior to store management or law enforcement and to stay aware of their surroundings while using dressing rooms.
Comes After Earlier Warning In Same Shopping Corridor
The alerts arrive months after Smyrna officers issued a warning in April about a man approaching women in a Kroger parking lot off Sam Ridley Parkway, a notice that led to extra patrols in the corridor, according to WSMV. Anyone who was in the retail areas along Sam Ridley Parkway and noticed suspicious activity, the suspect, or the vehicles described by police is urged to contact the department.
