Longmont Police is asking for help identifying potential suspects in a crime related to $35,000 in damage to city equipment. Longmont Public Safety released camera footage of the suspect that was captured by one of the new redlight cameras installed at Mountain View west of Hover. The footage was from March 24 around 10:30 p.m. and showed a suspect walking up to the camera system. The police department is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest.
The post also included an earlier video from March 14 around 7 p.m. at the same location on Mountain View west of Hover. In this video, a bicyclist is seen pulling off to the side of the road before the camera shakes slightly and goes black. This incident didn’t result in damage and the police are saying that this may or may not be the same individual.
The Facebook post stated, “Our community has 100,000 residents and spans 340 miles of roadway. We need the help of our residents to keep our neighborhoods safe. If you notice anything suspicious or potentially illegal, please call the non-emergency number for the Longmont Police at (303)651-8501. This is a great number to add to your cell phone. Together, we can work as a team to reduce crime and protect our community.”
The city began installing the red light cameras on March 16 after the initiative was approved last November. The city announced last month that there has been an increase in backflow preventer valve theft, including at least 24 expensive units that were stolen from public parks.
“Longmont Police are utilizing speed cameras, which are an effective tool for lowering speeding incidents in your neighborhoods,” the Longmont Public Safety Facebook post said. “These cameras address the additional resources for neighborhood and traffic safety. Traffic and speed are among the most common complaints in our community.”
The City of Longmont’s Public Information Officer Rogelio Mares said that towns with similar camera systems installed have had mobile units vandalized, but it is the exception rather than the rule. “We believe that most people share a common understanding, neighborhoods want their streets to be safe and welcome assistance in reducing speeds and the severity of crashes,” Mares said.
If you can identify this individual by name, please contact Detective Sergeant Tim Madigan at (303) 651-8869 or email ([email protected]).
