A woman is going viral on TikTok after calling attention to something unsettling that another creator says was found outside a bathroom at an Exxon gas station. April (@itzaprilduh) shared a screen recording of the original video, adding her own commentary as she walked viewers through what was discovered. The clip centers on what appeared to be a women’s restroom door at the gas station, and the strange device attached to it. "This is unbelievable," April says in her video. As of Monday, April’s clip had racked up more than 1.2 million views, with viewers split between confusion, concern, and outright alarm over what they were seeing. What Was On The Bathroom Door? In the original video April shared, an unidentified woman says she was waiting to use the women’s restroom when she noticed something felt off. The bathroom area included several doors, including one marked for employees, one for men, one for women, and an exit. Across from the women’s restroom was also a door labeled "private," complete with a hand symbol indicating it wasn’t meant for public use. But what caught her attention was a small, rectangular metallic box mounted high on the women’s restroom door. "Notice how all these doors are empty except for the women’s," the woman says as she pans her camera. "What is this? And why can it be unlocked and locked?" She explains that she and others couldn’t tell if the restroom was occupied. They knocked several times, got no response, and noticed the device was beeping. "Why is it only on the women’s restroom?" she asks. "For women’s, we have this lock that looks like it can be remote controlled. Make it make sense." The video suggests that the woman eventually called the authorities. After the clip ends, April reappears on screen to share her reaction. "That’s so weird to me. What are you guys planning on doing? That is suspicious. It’s weird. It’s scary," she says. So…What Was It? This incident first came to light last March. The New York Post reported that a fire marshal ultimately removed the lock. The station manager reportedly said it was installed to keep a group of men from vandalizing the facility. Now the video has resurfaced, much to the alarm of many who’ve come across it online. Commenters guessed correctly that the device found outside the women’s restroom was very likely a remote-controlled lock. And while technically these can be installed outside public restrooms, they’re also controversial. Store owners typically install them to control who can access the restroom. Sometimes the goal is to curb vandalism or prevent large groups from piling into a tiny bathroom, as the manager of this station reportedly claimed. As some commenters noted, too, some locks can be controlled remotely, giving employees control access. But that kind of control comes with real risks. If a door is locked while someone is inside, it can leave them effectively trapped, with no obvious or easy way out. Not only that, but having these locks in place is a major red flag under most fire and building codes, which generally require bathroom doors to be freely operable from the inside at all times. Then there’s the obvious issue of optics. If people only install these locks in women’s restrooms, that raises questions about discrimination and raises concerns about trafficking, as some commenters who watched April’s video noted. So while the device may have been technically legal when it first went up, its presence is the kind of thing that usually comes down fast once people start asking questions. Viewers Sketched Out By Lock Box The box immediately unsettled people who came across April’s video, prompting speculation about what it was doing there—and why it was installed. "It’s a lock," one commenter asserted. "Once someone goes in there they lock it and the traffickers can go in sedate them and take them out the emergency door. Definitely investigate the entire establishment." "I did a Google search on that device and she’s correct; that is a remote control dual lock," another noted. "It’s WIFI-OPERATED, meaning the lock could be operated off-premises. I bet a penny that cameras are also installed. SCREAMING MISSING PERSON INVESTIGATION," a third added. There’s no indication that there were any reports of a missing person or other nefarious activity associated with the lock. Several commenters said the situation warranted more scrutiny beyond simply removing the device. "I’m glad she called the cops, and they made them take it down," one person said. "But now that gas station needs to be investigated. Camera footage and ALL!" "Exxon care to explain this??" another asked. (Exxon stations are franchises; meaning the fuel company does not have authority over the bathroom doors.) There are no reports of any further police involvement in the situation after the lock was removed. Others zoomed out, using the moment to vent about the constant vigilance women feel they need just to stay safe. "Next time you hear a woman say we’re out here fighting for our lives, don’t laugh, dismiss her, and call her dramatic," one woman wrote. "Dear Lord, are we ever safe?!?! My daughter is 11," another shared. "Does she just need to know Muay Thai?" "Women are constantly under attack," a third added. "Ladies, stay alert!!" a fourth warned. Motor1 has contacted April via a direct message on TikTok and Exxon Mobil via phone. This will be updated if either replies. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team
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