When nature calls, most of us expect to quickly stop at a gas station or convenience store, use the restroom, and move on. But for one woman in College Station, Texas, a simple bathroom break turned into a creepy and worrying experience — all because of a weird lock on a women’s restroom door.
A TikTok User’s Shocking Discovery
A woman who goes by @momcallsmeshelby on TikTok shared her strange experience in a now-viral video. She and her friend had stopped at a gas station in College Station when she went to use the women’s restroom. That’s when things took a weird turn.
She said she heard an unusual sound just as she was about to enter. Luckily, she caught the door before it closed completely. That’s when she noticed something very odd: a lock installed at the top of the door, on the outside, that could only be operated from outside the restroom.
Feeling uncomfortable, she called her friend to stand guard while she quickly used the bathroom. Afterward, she recorded a video of the strange setup — clearly showing the lock — and pointed out that only the women’s restroom had this type of lock.
Sketchy Behaviour From Store Employees
What made the situation even more unsettling was the behaviour of the gas station staff. As Shelby and her friend recorded the lock, the cashiers reportedly began acting nervous and even gave them suspicious hand gestures — as if to say “I’m watching you.”
This, along with the strange lock setup, raised serious red flags for many viewers online.
Is This a Safety Threat?
Let’s be honest — a bathroom door that locks from the outside immediately raises concerns, especially in today’s world where human trafficking and personal safety are major worries. For solo women travellers, such situations are more than just uncomfortable — they can be dangerous.
Many people commented on the video saying they would’ve simply left the gas station and found another place, no matter how urgently they needed to use the restroom.
What Happened After the Video Went Viral?
Shelby did end up calling the police. However, even though the situation was suspicious, the police said they couldn’t take any action. But after thousands of people viewed the video and expressed concern, the fire marshal’s office got involved.
The fire department later visited the location and forced the gas station owner to remove the lock, saying it was a fire safety hazard.
Why Was the Lock There in the First Place?
Later, another video surfaced in which the gas station owner explained that the lock was put there because customers regularly damaged the women’s restroom. However, that explanation didn’t sit well with viewers.
If it was truly about preventing damage, why lock the door from the outside while someone is inside? That just doesn’t make sense — and more importantly, it puts people at risk.