Starbucks: Hidden video camera discovered inside women's restroom at California coffee shop

Police in the town of Lancaster have launched an investigation

Starbucks in Lancaster, California

Police in California have launched an investigation after a five-year-old discovered a hidden recording inside the women’s bathroom at a Starbucks' coffee shop.

A woman, who asked not to be identified, told KTLA that her year-year-old son made the discovery at the shop in the town of Lancaster.

“My son used the restroom first and I used the restroom after him,” she said.

A photograph of the sink where the camera was hidden

“I noticed he was staring at the sink a little bit perplexed. I asked him what was wrong and he said, ‘Mommy, why is there a phone under there?'”

When she looked under the sink, the woman saw a cell phone propped up by paper towels with the camera pointing toward the lavatory. She immediately notified employees who contacted the sheriff’s department.

“The deputies discovered that the cellphone was running in a video-recording motion,” said Lt Joseph Fender with the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

It was not clear where the video was being sent or how long the phone may have been recording.

“They were able to get some type of surveillance video from the location, however I don’t know what the contents of the video are at this time,” Fender said.

Starbucks spokesman Jaime Riley said in a statement: “We are disturbed by this incident and take our obligation to provide a safe environment for our customers and employees very seriously. Our store partners took swift action as soon as they became aware of the incident by immediately alerting the Sheriff’s Department of the situation.”