Apartment Complex 'Hive' Evacuated After 400 Hidden Security Cameras Discovered in Ceiling Fixtures
AUSTIN, Texas (August 15, 2024) – Police have evacuated all 200 units of the upscale "Hive" apartment complex in downtown Austin after a routine maintenance check discovered 400 hidden cameras embedded in ceiling fixtures. What: The discovery involved night-vision cameras, many wired to a central recording system in the building's basement. When: The breach was identified on Tuesday night during an inspection of a vacant unit. Where: The Hive Apartments, located on Congress Avenue. Who: Investigators are seeking the building's former property manager, who fled the state. Why: Preliminary reports indicate the cameras were motion-activated and streamed footage for at least 18 months, targeting tenant bedrooms and living spaces. The Austin Police Department has classified the incident as a massive violation of privacy under Texas wiretapping laws, and the FBI has joined the search. Residents are being relocated to undisclosed hotels, and the building remains sealed for forensic analysis.