Men Stole, Vandalized License Plate-Reading Cameras: Cops

LISLE, IL — Three men face felony charges after police say they stole and damaged five Flock automated license plate-reading cameras in Lisle.

Anthony Pareigis, 34, and Jacob Steichmann, 32, both of Downers Grove, and Thomas Yano, 31, of Indian Head Park, were charged with theft of government property and criminal damage to government supported property in connection with Sunday's incident.

Around 1 a.m., police learned three Flock cameras had been stolen in unincorporated Lisle and two Flock cameras had been stolen and damaged within village limits.

An hour later, officers saw two men dressed in black and wearing face masks heading toward a Flock camera. Police say one man held a latter as Pareigis held a drill.

Pareigis was taken into custody and the other man fled on foot.

During a search near where Pareigis was arrested, police say they found a 2012 Subaru with five Flock cameras, black latex gloves, a collapsible ladder, a saw and other power tools inside.

An investigation led police to identify Yano and Steichmann as the other two suspects in the incident.

The pair was arrested in Downers Grove shortly after 3 a.m.

"License plate readers (LPRs) are not 'big brother' surveillance tools,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement.

Berlin added, “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."

Steichmann, Pareigis and Yano are all set to appear in court on Aug. 24.