A security guard spotted him and held him until police arrived; a phone search revealed additional incriminating material. Experts warn of increasingly discreet cameras and a rise in such cases.
A 45-year-old Italian citizen was arrested on a beach in Istria on suspicion of filming naked children with his mobile phone. The case was confirmed on Saturday, August 8, 2026, by the Istrian police, who emphasized that a security guard was the first to notice the man, prevented him from continuing to film, and held him until police officers arrived.
This is not an isolated incident. During the summer season, police record up to ten similar cases on beaches. Just a month ago, also in Istria, a 63-year-old Slovak citizen was arrested for an almost identical criminal offense. The Italian has been remanded in custody, and a detailed examination of his phone revealed additional incriminating material.
Alica Rosić Jakupović, head of the Prevention Department at the Istrian Police Department, explained what parents and citizens should pay attention to. "These are mostly men, older or middle-aged, although we also see younger ones who are near children but don't have their own child to care for. So, you should watch for whether they carry a phone, a pen, or other objects that could conceal hidden cameras," said Rosić Jakupović.
Tomislav Ramljak, president of the Center for Missing and Abused Children and a Safer Internet, warns that technology is playing into the hands of perpetrators. "Technological advances mean that hidden cameras are no longer just carried by predators in thermoses, phones, watches, keychains, and lighters, but now also in glasses. Serial production of glasses with cameras has begun, allowing even more discreet photographing and filming of children without swimsuits," Ramljak stated.
It is security guards who most often report such cases. Police officer Rosić Jakupović highlights the long-standing cooperation: "The majority of reports indeed come from security guards and security companies. We can proudly say that for over 15 years we have been educating in camps-both security guards, internal services, and camp staff-on how to recognize and react when such an event occurs."
Ramljak advises that the best prevention is to have children wear swimsuits on the beach and to pay attention to suspicious individuals. "If we see suspicious people, especially those who came without children but linger near pools or shallow water where children are swimming, and if parents notice children without swimsuits, they should call the police or the security service," he said.
Concern is also growing among parents. Tea from Pula says she is extremely cautious: "I'm fully aware and strictly ensure my child is always dressed, and of course, when changing, I protect them with a towel." Goran from Rijeka shares similar thoughts: "It's worrying, worrying, but you can't put kids in spacesuits. I try to keep them dressed. But it does worry me, of course. It's not normal."
According to data presented by Ramljak, the number of criminal offenses of child exploitation for pornography has increased by as much as 300 percent in the last seven years. On average, nearly 500 such offenses are recorded annually, further emphasizing the importance of education and vigilance, especially during the summer months when beaches are crowded with families with children.
