GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Alachua County Sheriff’s deputies are asking women who believe they have been raped in a store to come forward.

“He would have an environment full of targets in which he could do his thing,” explains Art Forgey, spokesman for the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

Thomas Burns, 45, is charged with video voyeurism of a teenager. Officers say they were called to a convenience store last June when the only victim they spoke to reported Burns. Officers believe there are hundreds more victims out there.

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“Probably the worst part of this whole thing is that many of these victims don’t even know they’ve been victims of violence, have no idea what went on, and may not even recognize him,” Forgey said.

Officials believe Burns may have been targeting women at local grocery stores over the past two years. They say Burns placed his phone in a shopping basket at an unspecified grocery store or large retail store and slid it under a woman’s skirt or dress. They believe the victims are of varying ages.

A woman TV20 spoke to off-camera said Burns approached her and spoke to her at a Publix in Gainesville.

“If someone is invading your privacy, that’s a sign that something may be wrong and it’s time to walk away,” Forgey said.

Another woman told TV20 that she would be angry and uncomfortable if someone did something like that to her.

“It’s a major violation considering what he did, and it’s another one of those head-scratching cases. What makes people think this is OK?” Forgey said.

Burns is being held in the Alachua County Jail on $60,000 bail. If you recognize Burns and believe you may be a victim, sheriff’s office officials encourage you to contact Detective Adkins at [email protected].

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