A Halifax woman says she was shocked to see a drone hovering outside the bedroom window of her downtown apartment this week. Photo by Tim Krochak /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentA Halifax woman says she was unnerved to come out of the bathroom into the bedroom of her seventh-floor downtown apartment to see a drone outside her window. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe woman, who does not want to be identified, said the drone was hovering, not flying by, when she saw it at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday.Article contentArticle content“It was just floating there. I thought it was a bird at first,” she said. “It was probably a foot or two away.” Article contentArticle contentIt was pointed toward her large bedroom window, she said, and stayed there even as she stared it down for 30 or 40 seconds. Article content“As soon as I started to walk toward it, it flew away.” Article contentShe said she doesn’t know if it was recording her but the operator was definitely looking at her. Article contentThe grey device looked to be a bit smaller than a laptop computer. Article content“I wish I had taken a photo of it, but I was kind of in shock when I saw it,” the woman said. Article contentShe had never had any worries about someone looking into her bedroom window. Article content“You would think that living downtown with no apartment looking directly into my room that I wouldn’t need to keep my blinds shut 24/7, but I guess I need to,” she said. Article content“I was very shaken up by it because there was somebody watching me. It’s disgusting to think about.” Article contentShe was dressed at the time. Article contentThe woman called Halifax Regional Police, and an officer came to her apartment and opened a file. Article content“He said at least there is a paper trail now in case it happens to someone else,” she said, but the matter would be hard to pursue without knowing who was flying the drone or from where. Article contentArticle content A Halifax woman says she was shocked to see a drone hovering outside the bedroom window of her downtown apartment this week. Photo by Tim Krochak /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentShe said she hasn’t had any issues with anyone in the building seeming to be watching or following her. She also talked to the building superintendent, who said there was nothing happening at the Barrington Street building that would involve a drone being used. Article contentIt’s her hope that going public will make downtown tenants more aware. Article content“I don’t want this to happen to anyone else,” she said. “I don’t want to think that there is a peeping Tom in the city using a drone at night to look in people’s windows while they’re sleeping.” Article contentThe woman said her feeling of privacy because her apartment is high above street level is gone. Article content“I shouldn’t have to always have my blinds shut out of fear of somebody flying a drone outside my window. That was the last thing I expected to see here.” Article contentBut that’s what she’s doing now. Article content“I keep my blinds shut all day now. I shouldn’t have to be scared of walking around in my robe, but I feel like I have to now because I don’t know if somebody is going to be watching me or recording me.” Article contentEven with the blinds closed Wednesday night, she said she “felt scared to go to bed, scared that somebody was actually watching me.” Article contentShe posted about the incident on social media and said one person commented that they had experienced the same thing, while others said they had seen a drone flying around Gottingen and Agricola streets that seemed to be scoping out properties. Article contentHalifax Regional Police spokeswoman Marla MacInnis said the file remains open and people need to be aware that the laws around voyeurism apply whether someone is looking into an apartment using a drone or in person. Article content
Peeping drone: Halifax woman shocked by device watching her through bedroom window
