A 34-year-old construction foreman has been arrested after hidden pinhole cameras were discovered inside three changing rooms at a 24/7 Fitness branch in Sha Tin, with police recovering video clips from the devices during their investigation.
The case came to light on Saturday when a female staff member at the gym’s Lek Yuen Street outlet discovered the concealed cameras in the changing rooms. She alerted police, prompting an investigation that quickly led officers to a man living in Sha Tin Wai.
Police arrested the suspect on suspicion of voyeurism. Officers later searched his home and seized two desktop computers and a laptop as part of the investigation into the alleged recording of people without their knowledge.
Forensic officers examined the three pinhole cameras recovered in connection with the case and found multiple video clips stored on the devices. According to police, the recordings were made between September 24 and 25.
The discovery has raised immediate privacy concerns for gym members who used the affected changing rooms during the period covered by the recordings. Police have not disclosed how many people may have been captured or whether all of the recordings have been identified.
The investigation remains ongoing, and officers are examining the seized electronic equipment and camera footage for further evidence. The suspect's arrest does not, by itself, establish guilt, and the full circumstances surrounding the alleged recordings have yet to be determined.
Staff Member Discovered Cameras
The investigation began after a female employee noticed the concealed devices at the Lek Yuen Street gym. Hidden cameras can be particularly difficult to detect because pinhole models are small and can be positioned inside or behind ordinary fixtures.
Once the cameras were reported, police began tracing the person believed to be responsible. Investigators subsequently identified the 34-year-old suspect and detained him in Sha Tin.
A subsequent search of his residence in Sha Tin Wai produced additional electronic equipment. Police took two desktop computers and one laptop for examination, alongside the three pinhole cameras linked to the investigation.
The forensic examination found several video clips recorded over September 24 and 25. Investigators will now need to establish how the devices were installed, when they were activated and whether material from them was transferred to other devices or stored elsewhere.
Those questions could also determine the wider scope of the investigation.
Gym Chain Suspends Suspect's Membership
24/7 Fitness said it was cooperating fully with police and had provided investigators with the information they requested.
The gym operator said it does not tolerate violations of members’ privacy and confirmed that it immediately suspended the suspect’s membership after the incident came to light.
The company also apologized to members who may have been affected by the discovery of the cameras.
In response to the incident, 24/7 Fitness said it would introduce additional operational measures at its branches. These include more extensive inspections and the use of technological tools designed to identify concealed devices.
The new checks will cover changing rooms, bathrooms and toilets, according to the company.
The measures reflect the difficulty of detecting small surveillance devices through ordinary visual inspections alone. A pinhole camera can be compact enough to blend into its surroundings, making regular checks an important part of preventing unauthorized recording in private areas.
Police Continue Examination of Devices
The seizure of computers and a laptop could give investigators a broader picture of the alleged activity. Digital forensic examinations may help determine whether footage from the cameras was stored, copied, viewed or transferred using the seized equipment.
The video clips already recovered provide investigators with a defined period to examine, while the electronic devices could potentially contain additional material relevant to the case.
Police have not released details about the content of the recordings or identified any victims publicly. They have also not indicated whether the suspect faces additional charges beyond the voyeurism investigation.
For people who used the affected changing rooms, the discovery may raise questions about whether they were recorded and whether their images remain in circulation. Those issues will depend on the results of the police examination and any subsequent legal proceedings.
The case also puts attention on the responsibilities of businesses that operate facilities where customers routinely change clothes or use private spaces. Gyms, sports centres and similar venues must protect customers from unauthorized surveillance while maintaining facilities that members can use without expecting to be recorded.
New Security Measures Planned Across Branches
24/7 Fitness said its response would extend beyond the Lek Yuen Street outlet. The company announced enhanced inspections across its branches and said it would deploy technology to scan areas where hidden cameras could potentially be installed.
The company’s measures are intended to cover private facilities including changing rooms, bathrooms and toilets.
For gym users, the incident illustrates why suspicious objects, unusual fixtures or unfamiliar devices in private areas should be reported rather than ignored. Staff members are often the first people in a position to notice changes inside facilities, as happened when the camera installations were discovered at the Sha Tin branch.
Police are continuing to investigate the case, including the footage recovered from the three cameras and the electronic devices seized from the suspect’s home.
As the examination continues, authorities will determine whether further evidence supports additional charges or identifies more people affected by the alleged recordings. If you use a gym or other shared facility, would you know what to do if you discovered a suspected hidden camera?