HURST, Texas — Hurst Police arrested 23-year-old Caleb Leonard after a hidden camera was found in a dressing room at the Aeropostale outlet in North East Mall. The device was discovered on April 24 by two young women, and police say Leonard was taken into custody on May 14 on charges of invasive visual recording and tampering with physical evidence. Catalyst Brands, Aeropostale’s parent company, confirmed the employee was suspended then terminated and that the company worked with investigators. The Hurst Police Department is asking anyone who thinks they may have been recorded in that dressing room to come forward.
Police say the situation began when two customers noticed a small device partially hidden in a dressing room and reported it to store staff, who then alerted law enforcement. Officers responded to the mall, documented the scene and began an investigation that led them to identify a store associate as a suspect. Authorities describe the discovery as disturbing and emphasized the importance of quick reporting in incidents involving potential privacy violations. The initial call prompted the store to place the employee on administrative leave while the case was active.
Later inquiry by investigators resulted in the arrest of 23-year-old Caleb Leonard on May 14, according to the Hurst Police Department. He faces charges for invasive visual recording and tampering with physical evidence, offenses that reflect both the alleged act and subsequent attempts to hide or alter proof. Leonard had been employed at the Aeropostale inside North East Mall at the time the camera was found. The arrest marks a significant step in the investigation and gives any potential victims a clear point of contact for next steps.
“We are aware of the arrest of a former associate. Upon learning of the allegations, we immediately suspended the associate and began working with the Hurst Police Department to support their investigation. We have since terminated the associate. The safety and security of our customers is always of utmost concern, and we have zero tolerance for behavior that puts anyone visiting our stores at risk. We are grateful to the Hurst Police Department for their professionalism related to this matter.”
Cases like this raise obvious concerns about privacy in public retail spaces, especially in dressing rooms where people expect personal space and discretion. While store layouts and staff vigilance vary, customers can reduce risk by checking fitting areas for anything out of place before using them and reporting anything suspicious immediately. Mall management and retailers typically have protocols for these incidents, but community awareness remains a vital line of defense. If you see something that looks off, say something right away to store managers or mall security.
The Hurst Police Department is inviting anyone who believes they were recorded in that specific dressing room to contact investigators at (817) 788-7166. Officials want to hear from anyone with information, whether it’s a direct experience or a detail that might help establish timelines and locations. Providing tips can be anonymous in many cases, and even small pieces of information can be crucial to building a complete picture of what occurred. Authorities stressed that reports help protect other shoppers and support the investigative process.
Aeropostale’s response — suspending the associate, cooperating with law enforcement and then terminating employment — is the action the company described as necessary once the allegations were known. Retailers face not only legal but reputational fallout when incidents like this appear, and many chains are re-examining staff training, dressing room visibility and customer-safety procedures. Hurst police say cooperation between businesses and investigators helped move the case forward, and they thanked employees who reported concerns promptly.
For shoppers at North East Mall and elsewhere, the episode is a reminder that vigilance matters and that filing a report can make a real difference. If you were at the Aeropostale dressing room on or around April 24 and have any reason to suspect you were recorded, reach out to Hurst Police at (817) 788-7166 so officers can follow up. Community tips and prompt reporting are the practical steps that help prevent repeat offenses and protect privacy.
