Full Breakdown
All Eight Winona Police Flock License-Plate Readers Stolen in Coordinated Theft
8/6/2026, 11:18:26 AM
The Theft of Winona’s Flock Cameras
Winona, Minnesota police confirmed that every one of the city’s eight Flock automated license-plate readers (ALPRs) was cut from its pole and taken. Officers first noticed a lack of alerts on the night of August 1, prompting a check that revealed the poles abandoned in nearby weeds. Police believe the thefts occurred between July 29 and August 1. No suspects have been identified, and the cameras remain unrecovered.
Background and Recent Statewide Incidents
The Winona incident follows a pattern of Flock camera vandalism across Minnesota. Police departments in Duluth, Plymouth, Faribault, Edina and Anoka County have reported stolen or damaged units in recent months. In Faribault, a man in his 40s was charged with stealing a camera to disassemble it. The prevalence of these thefts has been noted by state law-enforcement officials as part of a broader national trend affecting Flock Safety devices.
Cost and Operational Impact
Winona Police officials stated that each camera and its pole costs roughly $3,000, placing the total replacement expense at about $24,000. The loss falls directly on the department’s budget. The stolen units were positioned at key highway entry and exit points—two at each of the following locations: Highway 61 / Bundy Boulevard, Highway 61 / Highway 14, Highway 14 / Knapp Valley Drive, and Highway 43 / Homer Road. Two additional Flock cameras owned by Buffalo County on the Mississippi River Bridge were also taken in the same manner.
Official Response
The Winona Police Department issued a press release urging anyone with information to contact the department at 507-457-6302 or CrimeStoppers at 507-457-6530. The department emphasized that data captured by the cameras is owned by the police and is permanently deleted after 30 days, limiting any long-term loss of investigative information.
Verbatim Quote
“Officers located the poles nearby in the weeds, but the cameras had been removed. As of [August 4th], the cameras have not been located.” — Overall
