West Whiteland Township police say a routine shopping trip in Exton turned unsettling when a Coatesville man allegedly used his cellphone to secretly photograph teenage girls inside a Plato’s Closet dressing room on Dec. 30, 2025. Customers reported seeing a phone slide under a fitting-room divider while the teens tried on clothes, then quickly alerted store employees, which brought officers into the case.
Police say public ID’d suspect from surveillance photos
Investigators released store surveillance images of a man wearing a gray puffy coat and asked for the public’s help tracking him down. According to 6abc, community tips steered detectives toward a suspect, while FOX29 reported that officers were called to the Whiteland Towne Center around 3:30 p.m. that afternoon. As the search unfolded, police urged anyone with information to send tips through their online Crimewatch portal.
Investigators say phone search tied images to store visit
Authorities ultimately identified the suspect as Eric Hart of Coatesville and charged him with invasion of privacy. A forensic review of a cellphone seized from his home allegedly uncovered photos of the victims, along with metadata that investigators say placed the device inside the Plato’s Closet between 3:13 p.m. and 3:17 p.m. on Dec. 30, 2025, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Police say they contacted Hart on Jan. 2 and that court documents indicate the phone was later found powered off behind a desk in his basement.
Witnesses spoke up, detective says
West Whiteland Detective Sgt. Jeffrey McCloskey credited witnesses with being direct and detailed about what they saw, saying their accounts helped narrow the investigation. “They weren’t afraid to say something,” McCloskey said, as reported by NBC10 Philadelphia. Police have not shared any additional information about potential sentencing as the case moves through the courts.
Charges, court date and ongoing investigation…