Three men charged with theft and vandalism of Flock cameras in DuPage County
Three men have been charged with stealing and vandalizing five Flock Automated License Plate Reading (ALPR) cameras last weekend, according to a July 27 announcement from DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Lisle Chief of Police Michael Rodriguez, and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick. Anthony Pareigis, 34, Jacob Steichmann, 32, both of Downers Grove, and Thomas Yano, 31, of Indian Head Park each appeared in First Appearance Court charged with two counts of Theft of Government Property ($500 to $10,000) and two counts of Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property. The charges are non-detainable under the Safe-T-Act; all three were released from custody pre-trial.
According to authorities, at approximately 1:00 a.m. on July 26 in Lisle Village and unincorporated Lisle areas, police discovered that five Flock cameras had been stolen or vandalized. Later that night at around 2:16 a.m., officers allegedly observed two males dressed in black clothing approach another Flock camera—one carrying a ladder and the other identified as Pareigis holding a drill. Officers apprehended Pareigis while the second individual fled on foot. A search revealed a grey Subaru nearby containing about five Flock cameras along with tools linked to the thefts. Further investigation led officers to identify Steichmann and Yano as additional suspects; they were taken into custody by Downers Grove Police at approximately 3:10 a.m.
“License plate readers are not 'big brother' surveillance tools,” Berlin said. “They are a critical tool used by law enforcement under strict statutory guidelines used to locate specific vehicles suspected of being involved in a crime. They also provide valuable information when time is of the essence, such as in missing persons reports or an AMBER alert. Any tampering with, or theft of an LPR is not only a serious crime but it also impedes law enforcement and diminishes public safety. Anyone caught damaging or stealing an LPR will be met with the full force of the law and if found guilty face a significant amount of time behind bars.”
Rodriguez said, “Automated License Plate Reader cameras are one of the most valuable investigative tools available to law enforcement... They do not replace police officers nor monitor people's daily lives—they simply capture objective information that helps investigators solve crimes... Destroying or stealing public safety equipment is a felony. It jeopardizes criminal investigations, wastes taxpayer dollars, and ultimately harms the very community these systems are intended to protect.” Mendrick added, “People need to understand that License Plate Readers are government property and are installed to help keep our communities safe... Acts of vandalism against LPRs not only violate the law but also hinder law enforcement's ability to investigate crimes and protect the public.”
The next court appearance for all three defendants is scheduled for August 24 before Judge Daniel Guerin.
DuPage County has notable educational statistics; for example, among its schools York Community High School had the highest enrollment of white students (1,844), Metea Valley High School had the highest enrollment for multiracial students (162), Westmore Elementary School recorded ten Pacific Islander students—the county’s highest—and Addison Trail High School had 1,259 Hispanic students enrolled during the most recent school year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.