Minnesota police report wave of thefts targeting Flock license‑plate cameras

Law‑enforcement agencies across Minnesota have documented a surge in theft and vandalism of Flock automatic license‑plate‑reading (ALPR) cameras. In Winona, police discovered all eight cameras missing after their mounting poles were cut down and the devices removed. Similar incidents have been reported in Faribault, where a camera was taken from a 10‑foot pole, in Duluth (six recorded thefts or vandalism), and in Edina, where cameras were damaged with a bat‑like object.

Authorities suspect motives ranging from privacy opposition to resale of components. Sgt. Nicholas Quimby noted that “either opposition to the cameras philosophically or a desire to turn the components into cash are definitely possibilities.” One individual, Justin Lee Campbell of Faribault, has been charged with felony interference with emergency communications and theft for allegedly stealing a camera in Rice County. The pattern has sparked debate over the use of ALPR technology in immigration enforcement and public surveillance.