Flock cameras stolen, destroyed in California

Our Take

WHAS11's report is a snapshot of something we've been tracking for a while: people are fed up enough with Flock Safety's camera network that some are taking matters into their own hands. Whether you see that as vigilantism or a predictable backlash, it's a signal. When communities feel like they have no real say in whether a camera goes up on their street, corners get cut on the democratic process — and eventually, people find their own ways to push back.

We don't endorse property destruction, but we understand the frustration driving it. These cameras were often installed with little public debate, minimal transparency about data retention, and vague promises about 'only catching bad guys.' In practice, ALPR data gets shared across jurisdictions, pulled into unrelated investigations, and retained far longer than most residents realize. That's the real story behind the vandalism headlines: a trust deficit that police departments and Flock Safety have done little to close.

If you want to know whether these cameras are watching your own neighborhood, check our camera map to see what's been documented near you. And if you'd rather push for accountability through city council meetings and public records requests than through a crowbar, our take-action page has concrete steps for making your voice heard the legal way. Credit to WHAS11 for putting a camera on this growing friction point.