TEMECULA, CA — An 18-year-old Temecula man was arrested after a Flock camera was allegedly stolen, authorities announced on Friday.
On Tuesday, just before 9 p.m., a deputy was patrolling the area of East Benton Road and De Portola Road when he was contacted by a resident who reported that a group of people had loaded a "cut-down" Flock Safety camera into a vehicle.
Authorities were given a license plate number of the suspected vehicle, and with the assistance of the department's air resources, deputies located the vehicle at a home in the 43000 block of Matera Court in Temecula, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Deputies responded to the location and conducted a traffic stop, and the occupants of the vehicle were detained without incident. Deputies recovered the allegedly stolen property, which will be returned to Flock Safety, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Authorities identified Andrew Anderson as "the primary suspect." He was arrested and booked into the Coys Bryd Detention Center on charges of grand theft and felony vandalism, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
All of the other occupants of the vehicle were released, authorities said.
According to court records on Friday, Anderson was no longer in custody. He is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 20.
Riverside County Sheriff's Department said the investigation is ongoing.
"Vandalizing or damaging Flock cameras is a serious crime and will be aggressively investigated. Those who intentionally damage, destroy, or tamper with Flock cameras will face felony charges and arrest," the sheriff's department said.
No additional information was immediately available.
Anyone with additional information related to the investigation was asked to call the Southwest Sheriff's Station at 951-696–3000.
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