I wanted to use the women’s restroom at a gas station — but what I discovered on the outside door was horrifying
Imagine stepping into a gas station bathroom, shutting the door behind you — then realizing you might not be able to open it again.
A quick roadside pit stop turned into a potential nightmare for a Texas woman named Shelby after she noticed a chilling detail involving the women’s room.
In a series of viral TikTok videos posted starting Wednesday, March 26, she described discovering an electronic lock on the outside of an Exxon restroom door in the city of College Station.
“Maybe I’m crazy but if I am, I would love to know what this contraption is for,” she captioned her first, nearly six-minute upload, which has amassed more than 335,000 views.
Shelby explained that the lock could engage upon closing the door, seemingly leaving anyone inside trapped unless someone from the outside releases it.
“You have no way of getting out,” she said.
“And it’s not on the men’s,” Shelby continued, taking a moment to film the outside of the guys’ loo to show that it didn’t have an outer bolt.
In her first video, Shelby recalled the “irate” gas station employees telling her that she couldn’t take photos or any footage inside.
The TikTokker claimed the workers gave her an “I’m watching you look” and repeatedly gestured by pointing two fingers to their eyes and then at her.
She subsequently contacted local police, who were told by workers that the lock was in place to prevent a “large” group of men from entering to “destroy” the facility, which reportedly happened in the past.
However, Shelby claimed that the authorities agreed that it was “sketchy” and “didn’t really make sense” because the lock would not prevent anyone from actually entering the restroom.
Shelby stressed that she made videos about her experience to warn the many “vulnerable young girls” who live near nearby at A&M University.
Commenters beneath her posts discussed about the potential dangers, with one saying, “Let’s take it a step further … how many people have gone missing in this area?”
Another added, “I was also wondering if there are any doors inside of the bathroom that can be accessed from a secret area.”
Others applauded Shelby for her quick thinking and sharing of video, as well as her efforts to spread the word on the matter by sharing the location.
“This is a perfect example of see something, say something,” ne grateful viewer noted. “You went with your gut and probably helped save girls and women! Thank you!”
Someone else chimed in, “This is why you have to [be] constantly aware of your surroundings. At All Times. Great job noticing!!!” Another deemed the lock to be one of the “creepiest things” they had “ever seen.”
Shelby shared in a final post revealing that a fire marshal later removed the lock from the bathroom door.
“My old co-worker called the cops and stayed until them and the fire marshal showed up and [made] them remove the lock!” one user wrote beneath Shelby’s March 26 video. “Stay safe, ladies.”
“Hallelujah, high five to everyone who took this serious and raised awareness,” Shelby signed off the last post.
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