Police officers in Łomża have detained a 54-year-old man who on Thursday used his phone to film a woman in a hospital toilet. Thanks to the vigilance of the victim and the swift reaction of the staff, the perpetrator was caught in the act. Officers secured the suspect's smartphone, in whose memory they found numerous recordings of other women in intimate situations. The man has been charged by the prosecutor, and investigators are examining the scale of his criminal activity.
Caught in the act
The 54-year-old was apprehended at a hospital in Łomża after he tried to film a woman in a toilet using his mobile phone.
Evidence on the perpetrator's phone
Police secured a smartphone containing numerous recordings of other women in intimate situations, suggesting a serial nature to the acts.
Charges and police supervision
The man has been charged with recording a nude person's image without consent; the prosecutor applied police supervision and a prohibition on approaching the victim.
Officers from the Łomża City Police Headquarters apprehended a 54-year-old city resident who committed a gross violation of the intimacy of patients at a local hospital. The incident occurred on Thursday, March 6, 2026, when the man attempted to record with his mobile phone a woman using the hospital toilet. Thanks to the immediate reaction of the victim and medical staff, the perpetrator was unable to flee the scene and was handed over to the summoned officers. Police immediately secured the smartphone belonging to the detainee, which became key evidence in the ongoing proceedings. Initial inspection of the device's contents revealed that the incident at the Łomża facility was not an isolated case. Investigators found numerous video files in the phone's memory depicting other women in intimate situations, indicating a habitual nature to the perpetrator's actions. The District Prosecutor's Office in Łomża has charged the 54-year-old under Article 191a of the Penal Code, concerning the recording of a nude person's image without their consent. Preventive measures in the form of police supervision and an absolute prohibition on contacting or approaching the victim have been applied against the suspect. The crime of recording a nude person's image without their consent, known in legal doctrine as a violation of intimacy, was introduced into the Polish legal order in 2011. The legislature took this step in response to the growing number of abuses related to the miniaturization of recording equipment, which allows for easy violation of privacy in public places.The management of the hospital in Łomża issued an official statement condemning the man's behavior and announcing increased supervision of publicly accessible sanitary zones. The facility emphasized that patient safety is a priority and that the incident was resolved thanks to an efficient security system and cooperation with law enforcement. Police are appealing to anyone who may have fallen victim to similar practices in other locations to report to the nearest police station. Experts in digital forensics will now subject the phone to detailed analysis to establish the identity of the other victims recorded by the 54-year-old. The prosecutor does not rule out expanding the charges as the examination of the secured evidence progresses, which may include recordings from other public facilities in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. The suspect faces a penalty of up to 5 years' imprisonment, which is the sanction provided for crimes against sexual freedom and morality.