City investigates damaged camera

ASHEBORO — Police in Asheboro are investigating who damaged one of the department’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras earlier this month.

Police say the ALPR camera on South Fayetteville Street near Boyd Avenue was damaged when someone cut a cable sometime between July 21 and 27.

The camera, which was installed between February and March of this year, sits on private property owned by Journey Church, which has an agreement with the department to host the camera.

Asheboro police estimate the damage at $1,000 and say the case has been referred to the department’s criminal investigations division. No suspect has been identified, and police are pursuing the case as damage to property, according to Assistant Chief of Police Jay Hanson.

The cameras have become a target of vandalism across the state. An ALPR camera was cut down in Wake Forest earlier this week, leading the nearby Wadesboro’s police department to issue a statement urging residents against damaging its Flock cameras. 

Cameras have also been damaged, cut down or vandalized in Rutherfordton and New Bern.

Anyone with information about the Asheboro incident is asked to contact the Asheboro Police Department or Randolph County Crime Stoppers.