A man has been arrested after allegedly "making intimate visual recordings" of young women without their knowledge in Christchurch.
It comes after several women living in the upper Riccarton and Ilam area filed complaints with police reporting they were being filmed, Detective Senior Sergeant Tania Jellyman said.
The offending happened from 2023 into 2024.
A 56-year-old Christchurch man is due to appear in the Christchurch District Court on May 13 on 16 charges, including five of making intimate visual recordings and seven for burglary.
"More charges are expected as other victims are identified," Jellyman said.
The man came to the attention of investigators on March 3 while officers spoke to him about an "unrelated matter".
"During that interaction, a description of the man's behaviour caught the attention of an investigator," Jellyman said.
"It matched the behaviour described in a news article from the previous month where young woman recounted seeing a man filming through their windows."
Women thanked for their 'incredible bravery'
Jellyman thanked the young women for their bravery in "shar[ing] their story — they have been instrumental in helping us identify other victims".
"To date, the charges of making intimate visual recordings relate to five separate incidents, and we are endeavouring to identify further victims," she said.
In one case, neighbours alerted the occupants to a suspicious person lurking outside a window.
Most of the victims appeared to have been unaware of the filming.
"Detectives are continuing to review items of interest and further charges are likely."
No one else is being sought in relation to the incidents.
"These events have been disturbing for the victims, who are in no way at fault for what occurred.
"They are alarmed at what has happened to them."
The women are being provided with support and a Police Liaison Officer is keeping them up to date with developments in the investigation.
Jellyman said the women involved "have shown incredible bravery, which has allowed police to lay these charges".
"Our home is where we should feel safe, and where every person has the right to privacy.
"Offending such as this undermines that."
Anyone at home who notices suspicious behaviour has been asked to contact police.
"The sooner we are made aware, the sooner we can act."
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