Story Archive

Look Up and Smile

A woman in the locker room beside the pool at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., was suspicious when she saw a ceiling tile askew, and called police. Sure enough, they found a camera peeping into the locker room, and it had only been there for one day. They further knew who had planted it there. “The camera got this guy,” said Troy Police Capt. John Cooney when he reviewed the images taken: the camera snapped a photo of the man installing it, since it was motion-activated. Thomas McMartin, 56, who does air conditioning work at the school, was arrested and charged with unlawful surveillance and burglary, both felonies. “I wanted to see if it would work in the locker room,” McMartin told investigators. “I was interested to see if it would capture an image of the girls in various stages of undress. I apologize to anyone I offended sincerely. I take full responsibility for my actions.” McMartin has pleaded not guilty to the charges. (RC/Albany Times Union) ...Full responsibility, no responsibility — what’s the difference?