August 2, 2026
Winona police are investigating after all eight of the city's Flock cameras were cut down and stolen.
It's the latest city in the state to experience Flock camera theft or vandalism; cameras have been reported stolen or damaged in Duluth, Plymouth, Faribault, Edina and Anoka County.
Winona police say officers initiated an investigation on Saturday night when law enforcement realized there had been no recent camera activity.
Officers searched the locations of the Flock cameras and found the camera poles cut down near the base and discarded in the weeds, according to Winona police. The cameras were removed.
Winona police said the thefts happened between July 29 and Aug. 1, adding that two cameras were taken from each of the following locations:
- Highway 61 and Bundy Boulevard
- Highway 61 and Highway 14
- Highway 14 and Knopp Valley Drive
- Highway 43 and Homer Road
The cost to replace each camera and pole is about $3,000, law enforcement said. Anyone with information on the thefts can reach out to Winona police at 507-457-6302.
A statewide trend
Duluth has reported a series of thefts, with at least five cameras stolen and another damaged in June and July, police said. Anoka County officials say a deputy reported a damaged Flock camera in Nowthen in May — no arrests have been made in either case.
Late last month, a man in his 40s was charged after allegedly stealing a Flock camera in Faribault with the intent to take it apart.
Closer to the Twin Cities, Edina police said the city has had four cameras vandalized since they began using them in 2023. In Plymouth, two cameras were damaged late in July: the first was found in pieces near where it was mounted, and the second had its power cord cut.
Found on Mainstream Media