Eastland: Woman allegedly exposed by unsupervised child in Bras N Things changerooms

A Boronia woman wants more security at intimate clothing stores after an unsupervised child pulled open an Eastland changeroom curtain and exposed her to customers.

Boronia's Tara Birnie said she was left traumatised after an incident while she was trying on lingerie at Bras N Things at Eastland. Picture: Supplied.

A Boronia woman has called for more security in intimate apparel stores after she says she was exposed to shoppers by an unsupervised child at a shopping centre in Melbourne’s outer east.

Tara Birnie, 32, was trying on lingerie at Bras N Things’ Eastland store on November 16 when she claimed a boy, estimated to be about nine years old, pulled open the curtain.

Ms Birnie said she was “mortified” as the boy allegedly stared at her for a few seconds, and she could be viewed by about 15 shoppers inside the store.

She was in shock and was later checked on by a staff member from outside the changerooms, but was left traumatised by the experience.

Ms Birnie said she thought the boy might have been playing hide and seek, as she heard him say ‘Come and get me, mum’.”

“I was trying on something very inappropriate and it didn’t feel good that a small boy got to see what I was wearing,” she said.

“Not only did I get seen in a mortifying position, but it’s not appropriate to take children into a lingerie store, especially a boy who could be curious about the female body.”

Ms Birnie, who suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome, said she had a panic attack afterwards and was assisted by an Eastland security guard at the centre to get home.

She said she was also worried about the boy being unsupervised at a busy shopping centre.

Ms Birnie said she was avoiding the centre after the incident and called for the retailer and similar stores at Eastland to introduce locks on their changeroom doors.

“All changerooms with curtains should be gone … there needs to be something with more privacy and a kid can’t crawl underneath to,” she said.

“People need to feel more comfortable using a changeroom, especially in a lingerie store.”

Eastland general manager Greg Balmforth said in-store practices were the responsibility of each individual retailer, and centre management had passed on Ms Birnie’s feedback to the store for a review.

“The wellbeing of all those that visit and work at Eastland is a top priority for us and something we take very seriously,” he said.

Bras N Things head office has been contacted for comment.