Photo courtesy of NPR.

Some people do not view Peeping Toms as criminals and consider the act a victimless crime.

However, National Association of Social Workers member David Prescott, said in this NPR interview that secretly watching and videotaping people for the purpose of sexual arousal is a crime.

And victims of Peeping Toms can also be traumatized by the act, said Prescott, MSW, LICSW, who lives in Maine.

“As far as I’m concerned it is indeed a sex crime and should be treated seriously,” he said.

NPR interviewed Debra Gwartney, the mother of four teenage daughters who were the victims of a Peeping Tom. She called police who downplayed the incident.

“They were very assuring, but they kept saying, ‘Oh, it’s just a prank. You know, kids do this. Don’t worry about it,'” Gwartney said.

Social workers help the victims of sexual assaults and other crimes. To learn more click here to read “Family Safety – Your Options: Teens and Rape” at the National Association of Social Workers’ “Help Starts Here” consumer website.