All of Winona Police Department's Flock cameras cut down and stolen
Eight license plate reader cameras in Winona, Minnesota, were stolen in a coordinated act of vandalism. The incident reflects a growing national trend of opposition to automated surveillance technology.
Why it matters
The theft highlights the ongoing tension between public safety initiatives and concerns regarding government surveillance and privacy.
WINONA, Minn. (Valley News Live) - Every Flock license plate reader camera operated by the Winona Police Department has been sawed off and stolen in what investigators believe was a coordinated theft.
All eight cameras were taken Aug. 1, according to the Winona Police Department. A patrol officer first noticed the cameras had not sent any alerts in 24 hours. When officers checked the locations, they found the cameras had been cut from their poles and taken. The poles were left behind.
Two additional Flock cameras on the Mississippi River Bridge, owned by Buffalo County, were also stolen in the same manner.
Each camera is valued at approximately $3,000, putting the total loss at roughly $24,000. That cost falls directly on the Winona Police Department’s budget.
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