Someone in Winona, Minnesota, stole the entire network of automated license plate readers owned by the local police department.
The poles were cut near their bases and left in weeds, while the cameras disappeared.
>>> Zoox Robotaxi Trips Could Cost More Than Uber or Lyft
The Winona Police Department discovered the theft on August 1 when an officer noticed the Flock cameras had not recorded recent activity.
Officers checked all four locations and found every camera missing. The department believes the thefts occurred between July 29 and August 1.
Replacing each camera and pole will cost about $3,000, putting the city on the hook for roughly $24,000 if it chooses to rebuild the system.
Mixed Reactions Online
The department's Facebook post about the theft drew widespread unease with surveillance. Comment settings were restricted after replies went off the rails.
>>> Ram and Fox Factory Showcase Lowered Muscle Truck and TRX Concept
Visible comments ranged from people offering fake fishing-trip alibis to one asking the department to identify crimes the cameras had actually helped solve.
Others argued the city should treat the missing cameras as a $24,000 lesson and decline to replace them.
The system came from Flock Safety, a major ALPR provider.
These cameras can log a vehicle's make, model, color, time, and location, creating a searchable record of where cars travel.
>>> Chery Outsells Honda and Mazda Combined in UK Just a Year After Launch
Police say the technology helps investigate stolen vehicles, missing-person cases, and hit-and-runs. But the same system also records the movements of everyone who drives past.
