Flock Cameras Stolen in Minnesota City

Flock cameras help police track cars. Now, police in Winona, Minnesota, are trying to find the cameras.

All eight Flock cameras in Winona disappeared between July 29 and August 1. Police found out when they noticed the system was not working. The cameras were taken from four locations, and the poles were cut. The equipment is gone.

There were two Flock cameras at each of the four locations. Replacing them will cost about $3,000 each, which is $24,000 total.

Winona is not the only city in Minnesota with missing Flock equipment.

In Duluth, five devices were stolen, and one was damaged. In Plymouth, one camera was found broken, and another had its power cord cut. Similar things happened in other cities.

Most of these cases are still unsolved. But in Faribault, a man was arrested for taking a camera. He said the cameras could track him, so he took one.

Police found the camera in the man's garage with black tape on the lens.

The thefts in Winona might be because people do not like being watched. Police think someone might have taken the cameras to sell the parts.

Flock Safety is being criticized for its surveillance network.

Flock cameras take pictures of cars and make records that police can search. These records can include the car's plate, location, and other details.

Police say this information helps them find stolen cars and missing people. Flock has about 120,000 devices in 6,000 communities.

But some people are worried about how much information the cameras collect. With many cameras, police can track where someone goes, even if they are not suspected of a crime.

There are also questions about who can see the information and how it is shared. Some police have used the system for personal reasons.

Many city councils have stopped using Flock systems. In Minnesota, one city ended its agreement with Flock after residents complained.

The debate is spreading to other places. Some state senators want cities to stop installing new cameras until they can make sure the system is safe.

There are new allegations that police have misused the system. Two officers in Ohio resigned after they were found to have searched the system without a good reason.

Flock says its cameras help police solve crimes and find people in danger.

Flock thinks that damaging the cameras can prevent police from getting important information. The company says people have the right to express their opinions.

Civil liberties groups are telling people to take their concerns to their local governments. The American Civil Liberties Union started a campaign to stop Flock.

Winona officials have not said if they will replace the cameras. But many communities are reconsidering Flock, and lawmakers are thinking about new rules.

The debate about Flock cameras is not over yet.

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