Grocery Store Employee Accused Of Taking Upskirt Videos Of Customers

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A kosher market butcher is charged with using a cell phone to take pictures under a female customer's skirt.

It happened in the Five Towns of Nassau County, CBS2's Carolyn Gusoff reports.

It was outside KolSave, a grocery store in North Lawrence, where an alert shopper may have stopped a serial predator.

The incident was caught on store surveillance video.

The 28-year-old victim told police while loading bags into her trunk, 20-year-old Jose Santana, a store butcher, asked if he could take her shopping cart.

The victim says she then "felt a hand brush up against the inside of my thigh, underneath my skirt."

Fearing an invasion of privacy, she asked for access to his phone so she could delete any pictures or videos he took of her, but he allegedly refused.

The victim then went to management, reviewed surveillance video and twice saw the man brush his phone under her skirt.

Police say that's not all they found on the employee's phone.

"We do have numerous other photos, and again, they're inappropriate. They're sexual in nature," Nassau County Police Lt. Richard LeBrun said.

The similar photos suggest possibly more victims, police say.

Santana, of Inwood, is charged with unlawful surveillance.

Shoppers, readying for the Sabbath outside the kosher market, had trouble digesting the news.

"It's a violation for any female,," one shopper said.

"It's an embarrassment," another shopper said.

"I'm devastated to hear such a thing," another shopper said.

Santana's sister and mother had no comment at his arraignment Friday. His attorney said he has an eighth grade education and no prior arrests.

Police have a plea to other customers who may be in the other photos.

"We want anyone, any victim who feels that there's been any type of inappropriate contact between Mr. Santana, the defendant, and them, please call Crime Stoppers," LeBrun said.

The Nassau County Crime Stoppers phone number is 1-800-244-TIPS. Possible victims can also call Nassau Police at (516) 573-6453.

It's not clear at this time if the photos were publicly distributed. Police are checking social media and beyond.

Management at the market, which has only been in business for 18 months, cooperated with police and declined comment.