Police see rise in Flock camera vandalism cases

Flood cameras are designed to help police track down stolen cars, missing people and criminals. The cameras are stationary and they use automatic license plate readers to identify vehicles in police investigations. More than a dozen local police departments and sheriff agencies are turning the technology back on across Washington state. But those who are against that decision say that they're concerned about privacy and they even want the cameras to be destroyed. I spoke with officials who say that online movement has already turned into real world vandalism. Halloween is now being promoted as default America night. It's an online movement creating some serious concerns. I was about to catch several felony charges. Do you want to come? Encouraging people to cut down and disable flock surveillance cameras using Halloween as cover across the country. Over 136,000 flock cameras are being tracked. According to D flock, an organization that maps out where license plate readers are located. There are at least 2100 here in Washington and 88% of those are flock cameras. Covington Police Chief Adam Easterbrook says a group of fourteens recently shot fireworks at one of the city's eight cameras. They told us this was a social media uh thing and they were telling us like they're they're telling us to cut down the cameras because the cameras are spying on us over in Yakima. A camera was cut down earlier this month. Police say repairing or replacing it will cost $2000 and in Ellensburg, Chelan County Sheriff says a man was arrested for damaging several cameras. You've seen some decoy cameras now being set up with other surveillance around them online. These videos are framed as satire as crater skirt platform rules. What you should not do is get yourself a mask. But what you shouldn't do is grab a cheap saws off and cut down flock cameras. Going property is not the best way to find an answer to your problem. Chief Easterbrook says he understands some may have strong opinions against the technology. He encourages those to go through the democratic process to fight it. If you come armed with facts, they may change your mind and turn them off and that's totally okay. In a statement, flock systems telling FOX 13 quote any coordinated effort encouraging people to damage this equipment doesn't just target a company. It targets the tools officers rely to solve on serious crimes and find missing people in their own communities. People have every right to make their voices heard. But criminal acts should never be part of that process in Washington state. If you aren't caught damaging a flock camera, it is considered a felony crime and you could face a hefty fine or even jail time.