DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin, Lisle Chief of Police Michael Rodriguez and DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced today, Monday, July 27, 2026, that three men have been charged with stealing and vandalizing five Flock ALPR (Automated License Plate Reading) cameras last weekend. Anthony Pareigis, age 34, of the 4400 block of Cross Street in Downers Grove, Jacob Steichmann, age 32, of the 300 block of Otis Avenue in Downers Grove, and Thomas Yano, age 31 of the 6600 block of Howard Avenue in Indian Head Park, each appeared in First Appearance Court Monday morning charged with two counts of Theft of Government Property – $500<$10,000 (Class 2 Felony) and two counts of Criminal Damage to Government Supported Property (Class 3 Felony). As the charges against the defendants are non-detainable under the Safe-T-Act, all three men were released from custody pre-trial.
Village of Lisle Police Officers discovered on July 26, 2026, at approximately 1:00 a.m., that two Flock cameras located within the Village of Lisle were vandalized and stolen and three Flock cameras located in unincorporated Lisle were stolen. Later that same night, at approximately 2:16 a.m., Lisle police officers allegedly observed two males, both dressed in all black clothing, gloves and facemasks, approach a Flock camera. One of the male suspects was holding a ladder while the other suspect, later identified as Pareigis, was holding a drill. Officers were able to immediately apprehend Pareigis while the second individual fled on foot.
Police officers, while searching the area, located a gray 2012 Subaru, approximately four hundred yards from where Pareigis was apprehended, with its windows partially rolled down allowing officers to see in plain view approximately five Flock cameras in the rear passenger side floorboard along with a collapsible ladder, black latex gloves, a saw and various power tools in the back of the vehicle. Through further investigation, officers identified Steichmann and Yano as additional suspects in the thefts. At approximately 3:10 a.m., officers with the Downers Grove Police Department observed Steichmann and Yano walking at the intersection of Walnut Avenue and Curtiss Street where they were taken into custody. Each Flock camera is valued at approximately $2,800.
“License plate readers are not “big brother” surveillance tools. 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. I commend the Lisle Police Department for their efforts in this case that led to today’s charges. I thank DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick and his office, the Darien Police Department Drone Team, the Downers Grove Police Department and the Illinois State Police for their assistance as well as Assistant State’s Attorneys Anthony Raimondi and Kelsey Kerr for their work on this case.”
— DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert B. Berlin
“Automated License Plate Reader cameras are one of the most valuable investigative tools available to law enforcement. They have helped locate missing and endangered children, identify suspects in violent crimes, recover stolen vehicles, apprehend wanted fugitives, and generate critical investigative leads in countless cases. They do not replace police officers nor monitor people’s daily lives—they simply capture objective information that helps investigators solve crimes. Unfortunately, we have recently seen an increase in misinformation surrounding this technology. Public debate is healthy and important, but when misinformation replaces facts, it can create an environment where some individuals believe that damaging public safety infrastructure is justified. 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. I am incredibly proud of the outstanding work by our officers and detectives. Within hours of discovering these crimes, they coordinated with our law enforcement partners, quickly identified the suspects, recovered what appears to be multiple stolen cameras, and prevented additional damage. I thank DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin and his team for their guidance in this case and continued support of law enforcement as well as the Downers Grove Police Department, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, the Darien Police Department, and the Illinois State Police for their assistance during this investigation.”
— Lisle Chief of Police Michael Rodriguez
“People need to understand that License Plate Readers are government property and are installed to help keep our communities safe. It is illegal to damage, steal, tamper with, or otherwise interfere with these devices. Acts of vandalism against LPRs not only violate the law but also hinder law enforcement’s ability to investigate crimes and protect the public.”
— DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick
The next court appearance for all three defendants is scheduled for August 24, 2026, in front of Judge Daniel Guerin.
Members of the public are reminded that these complaints contain only charges and are not proof of the defendants’ guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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