A driver in Putnam, Connecticut, seemingly took out one of the town’s Flock license plate cameras. Police say the person hit the camera with a vehicle and then drove away.
The camera was knocked down on the afternoon of Aug. 23. It had been installed along Woodstock Avenue, which is also known as Route 171.
At first, Putnam police believed someone had accidentally crashed into it. However, the tire tracks left behind told a different story.
Putnam Police Chief Chris Ferace told CT Insider that evidence suggested the driver had intentionally struck the camera. The incident is now being investigated as a crime.
The Vehicle Came From Behind the Camera
Embedded media follows. Please allow a moment for it to load.
This may sound like the kind of crash that would record itself. Unfortunately for the police, the driver approached the camera from behind, where its lens was not pointed.
WFSB also reported that tire tracks led directly to the back of the camera setup. As a result, it did not capture an image of the vehicle that knocked it over.
Paul Aldrich, who lives near the camera, called the police after his son noticed it on the ground. Putnam police have not released a description of the vehicle or identified a suspect.
The Camera Had Only Been There for a Few Months
The damaged camera was one of seven used by Putnam police. Flock cameras take photos of license plates and collect basic information about every vehicle that passes them.
During one recent 30-day period, the seven cameras photographed nearly 100,000 license plates. Despite collecting that many images, Putnam police only searched the system 31 times.
One of those searches reportedly helped police find a missing person from another state who was believed to be in danger. The person was eventually found and returned home safely. Putnam police are still trying to find the person responsible and find out why they damaged the camera. If the driver is identified, police said they will likely face a criminal mischief charge.
Another Driver Was Accused of Targeting Flock Cameras
Someone else had already been accused of damaging Flock cameras on the other side of Connecticut. Milford police arrested a 20-year-old man on Aug. 1 in connection with four damaged cameras.
According to his arrest warrant, the man admitted to damaging the cameras. He told police he thought the cameras invaded people’s privacy and were unconstitutional. The four cameras reportedly had more than $16,000 worth of damage. Some were taken apart, while others had their wires cut or lenses covered with spray paint.
The incidents are happening as more people around Connecticut were questioning how Flock cameras are used and where the information they collect goes.