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Women Confront Alleged Video Voyeur At Department Store

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MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) -- Miami Beach Police have arrested a man accused of video voyeurism at a department store in Miami.

Officers said Sergio Bayate, 35, ran from the TJ Maxx at 1149 5th Street after several women caught him trying to take photos with his cell phone up their skirts.

One woman, who doesn't want to be identified, noticed Bayate following her in the purse department.

"He was not looking at purses. He was not looking at purses," she told CBS4's Tiani Jones.

At one point, she says he got a little too close.

"He was close I had a loose dress and he was close to my dress," she said.

Jasmine Bachata Diva was shopping at the same time and noticed a man following her.

"I kept noticing this guy and I was like, 'OK, whatever.' I really didn't pay attention to it. And I saw him again and he just kept getting close to me," she said.

Later on she says she saw him again – this time, next to another woman.

"His phone was facing up with the camera so you could basically record whatever was above you," she explained. "And the girl had a dress on and so you could clearly see whatever it was underneath her dress."

She called police and confronted Bayate, who didn't like being filmed.

The women then chased Bayate to a nearby Walgreen's, where they saw him remove his white shirt and throw it in a garbage.

He was eventually apprehended and charged with video voyeurism of a person under the age of 18, as well as stalking. He was able to bond out of jail on $1,000.

TJ Maxx issued a statement, which said, in part, "The safety of our customers and associates is always a top priority. We are cooperating fully with law-enforcement."

This isn't the first time that Bayate has been in trouble.

He was arrested in 2006 and was charged with voyeurism and lewd and lascivious behavior.

As for the women who are shopping here at the TJ Maxx, they say they plan on being a little more cautious when they're out in public.

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