According to information provided to our firm, a concealed remote camera was reportedly discovered beneath a sink in at least one gender-neutral restroom at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Alsip. At the time this information was received, we were advised that the Alsip Police Department was investigating to determine who installed the device, whether people had been recorded without their consent, and how long the camera had been in place.
As of September 1, 2026, we have not located a publicly available announcement from the Alsip Police Department identifying the person responsible, announcing criminal charges, establishing how long the device was allegedly present, or identifying the number of people who may have been recorded. Those facts therefore should not be assumed unless and until additional information is released by law enforcement or established through other reliable evidence.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago - Alsip is located at 5000 West 127th Street in Alsip and operates an indoor swimming pool. The swim school Water You Wading For also states on its website that it conducts year-round swimming lessons at the DoubleTree in Alsip.
Those circumstances raise understandable questions for hotel employees, guests, visitors and swim-program participants who used the restroom during the potentially relevant period. At present, however, the mere fact that someone visited the hotel or participated in activities there does not establish that the person was actually recorded.
If you believe that you or your child may have used the affected restroom, Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC can discuss the circumstances confidentially and help determine what steps may be appropriate. Call (312) 243-9922 for free information.
Illinois Law Specifically Prohibits Hidden Recording in Restrooms
Illinois law provides particularly strong protection in locations where people reasonably expect privacy.
Under 720 ILCS 5/26-4, it is unlawful to knowingly make a video recording or transmit live video of another person without that person's consent in a restroom, tanning bed, tanning salon, locker room, changing room or hotel bedroom.
The statute also separately prohibits placing or causing a recording device to be placed in a restroom, locker room, changing room or certain other protected locations with the intent to record another person without consent.
Depending upon the circumstances, additional criminal laws may become relevant when recordings involve minors, nudity, dissemination of images or other conduct. The precise criminal charges are determined by law enforcement and prosecutors based upon the evidence.
Can Someone Secretly Recorded in a Bathroom File a Civil Lawsuit?
Potentially, yes. A criminal prosecution and a civil lawsuit are separate proceedings. Even when criminal charges have not yet been filed, a person who was unlawfully recorded may have potential civil remedies depending upon the facts.
The Illinois Supreme Court recognizes the civil tort of intrusion upon seclusion, a form of invasion of privacy involving a highly offensive intrusion into another person's private affairs. Secretly recording someone in a restroom or another genuinely private setting can present the type of privacy concerns addressed by this legal theory.
Other claims may potentially involve intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence or additional theories depending upon who installed the camera, who controlled the premises, what was known about the conduct and whether images were saved, shared or distributed.
Is the Hotel Automatically Liable Because a Camera Was Found There?
No. The discovery of a hidden camera on business premises does not automatically establish civil liability against the hotel or property owner.
A proper investigation may need to determine:
- who installed or controlled the camera;
- whether that person was an employee, contractor, guest or unrelated third party;
- who had access to the area where the device was concealed;
- whether the business knew or reasonably should have known about suspicious activity;
- whether there had been prior complaints or warning signs;
- what inspection, security and supervisory procedures were in place;
- how long the device may have remained undetected; and
- how the business responded after the device was discovered.
The answers to those questions can determine whether a claim exists only against the individual responsible or whether one or more businesses or other entities may also bear legal responsibility.
Who May Have Been Affected at the Alsip DoubleTree?
The potential universe of people cannot presently be determined from publicly available information. Depending upon the location of the restroom and the period during which the device was present, persons requiring investigation could potentially include:
- hotel guests and visitors;
- hotel employees;
- employees of outside vendors and contractors;
- people attending meetings, banquets or other events;
- participants in activities using the hotel's indoor pool; and
- parents and children attending swimming lessons or other programs.
Water You Wading For publicly identifies the Alsip DoubleTree as a year-round location for its swimming lessons. That fact does not establish that any particular student, parent or employee was recorded. It does, however, provide one example of why identifying the dates and times during which a device was present can become critically important.
What Should You Do If You Think You Used the Affected Restroom?
Preserve Proof That You Were There
Do not rely solely on memory. Preserve documents that may later establish your presence at the hotel, including:
- hotel reservations and receipts;
- credit-card records;
- swimming lesson schedules or registration confirmations;
- employment schedules;
- event invitations or registrations;
- emails and text messages;
- photographs containing date information; and
- calendar entries or location records that you lawfully possess.
Contact the Investigating Police Department
Anyone who believes that they or their child may have been affected can consider contacting the Alsip Police Department. Law enforcement may be in the best position to determine whether a person falls within a time period or group being investigated.
If you are given a police report or incident number, preserve it along with the name and contact information of the investigator.
Do Not Assume That No Criminal Charge Means No Civil Case
A civil claim does not necessarily depend upon a criminal conviction. The standards of proof, parties and available remedies are different. Likewise, a criminal investigation may continue long after a civil attorney should begin preserving evidence.
Strict filing deadlines can apply to civil claims. Anyone considering legal action should therefore obtain advice based upon the specific facts rather than waiting indefinitely for a criminal investigation to conclude.
How to Look for Hidden Cameras in Bathrooms, Hotels and Other Private Areas
Small cameras can now be concealed inside everyday objects, but there is no single inspection technique that will reliably find every device. Cameras may record locally to a memory card, transmit wirelessly, operate intermittently or remain completely disconnected from the Wi-Fi network available to a guest.
1. Begin With a Careful Visual Inspection
A deliberate visual inspection remains one of the most useful first steps. Look for an object that seems new, misplaced, unnecessarily pointed toward a private area or inconsistent with other fixtures in the room.
Potential hiding locations can include:
- smoke detectors and other ceiling fixtures;
- electrical outlets and USB chargers;
- clocks and electronic devices;
- air fresheners and motion sensors;
- vents;
- objects beneath sinks or counters;
- light fixtures;
- hooks and wall-mounted accessories; and
- small openings or objects aimed toward toilets, showers or changing areas.
Do not dismantle electrical equipment or fixtures merely because something appears unusual.
2. Look for a Small Lens or Unusual Reflection
A camera requires an opening through which its lens can see. Using a flashlight at different angles may sometimes reveal a small glass reflection inside an otherwise ordinary-looking object.
This technique is not conclusive. Reflective screws, plastic surfaces and other materials can look like lenses, while well-concealed lenses may produce no obvious reflection.
3. A Smartphone May Help, But It Cannot Rule Out a Camera
Some camera sensors in smartphones can display infrared light used by certain night-vision cameras. Others filter infrared light very effectively. Even a phone that detects infrared will not detect a camera that does not use active infrared illumination.
A simple way to determine whether your phone camera can see infrared is to point a television remote control toward the camera and press a button. If the remote's emitter appears as a flashing light on the phone screen, that particular camera may be capable of seeing at least some infrared light.
Even then, the absence of infrared light should never be treated as proof that no hidden camera exists.
4. Wi-Fi or Network Scans Have Significant Limitations
A network-scanning application can sometimes reveal unfamiliar devices connected to the same Wi-Fi network. But many hidden cameras record to internal memory, use cellular service, operate on a separate private network or remain offline until someone retrieves them.
For that reason, seeing no suspicious device on a Wi-Fi scan does not establish that a room is free of cameras.
5. Do Not Rely on Internet "Two-Way Mirror" Tricks
Internet advice sometimes suggests determining whether a mirror is two-way by placing a fingertip against the glass and looking for a gap between the finger and its reflection. That is not a dependable test. Different mirror construction methods can produce different results even when no observation area exists behind the mirror.
If a mirror or wall structure genuinely appears suspicious, visual inspection from lawful areas and professional examination are more reliable than the so-called fingertip test.
What to Do If You Actually Find a Suspected Hidden Camera
- Do not touch, remove or dismantle it. The device itself, its placement, fingerprints, memory card and electronic contents may all constitute important evidence.
- Photograph the device where it is located. Take wider photographs showing its position as well as closer photographs if that can be done safely without touching it.
- Leave the private area. Do not continue changing clothes, showering or using the restroom once you suspect that recording equipment is present.
- Contact law enforcement promptly. Allow investigators to decide how the device should be secured and examined.
- Write down the date, time and circumstances. Include who was present and what caused you to notice the device.
- Preserve receipts and other location evidence. These records may later be important in determining who was potentially recorded and during what period.
How Can Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC Help Hidden Camera Victims?
Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC represents adults and families affected by serious privacy violations, sexual exploitation and related misconduct. Our legal team also handles and investigates other hidden camera lawsuits involving allegations that people were secretly recorded in places where they expected privacy.
Our work in this area has included matters involving allegations of secret recording in medical and treatment facilities, spas, workplaces and other businesses. You can also read about allegations involving a Batavia chiropractor, the Reflexion Spa investigation in Hinsdale, and other hidden-camera cases around the country.
Depending upon the circumstances, an investigation by our legal team can include determining when a device may have been installed, identifying those with access to the location, preserving electronic and business records, communicating with law enforcement when appropriate, evaluating potential claims against responsible individuals or entities, and documenting emotional and other damages experienced by victims.
Our legal team has helped injury and abuse clients obtain millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. Prior results do not guarantee a particular outcome, and every hidden-camera case depends upon its own facts.
Contact an Experienced Hidden Camera Legal Team
Secret recording in a restroom is a serious invasion of privacy. For many victims, the uncertainty surrounding what was recorded, who viewed it and whether it was distributed can itself cause significant emotional distress.
Anyone who believes that they or their child may have been affected by the reported hidden camera at the DoubleTree in Alsip can contact Sexner Injury Lawyers LLC for confidential information about potential civil rights and next steps.
Call (312) 243-9922 for a free and confidential consultation. For matters accepted on a contingency-fee basis, no attorney fee is owed unless a recovery is obtained.
