PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A man is in custody for allegedly stealing a work van that was left unlocked and running in a Fond du Lac parking lot.
At 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, the Fond du Lac Police Department responded to SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital, located at 430 E. Division Street, for a report of a vehicle that had been stolen about 20 minutes earlier. Officials say the work van had been left unlocked and running in the hospital’s parking lot.
Fond du Lac police officers began canvassing the area before seeing the stolen vehicle register on the Flock license plate recognition system as it merged onto US Highway 41 from South Hickory Street. A short time later, the stolen van was again spotted on a Flock camera, this time in the city of Beaver Dam.
FDLPD officers relayed the information to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office and Beaver Dam Police Department, who located the van in a Walmart parking lot. A 43-year-old Columbus man was arrested without incident. He is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail on a charge of operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent. An investigation is still active.
“The recovery of this stolen vehicle without damage and the swift apprehension of the suspect highlight the power of our collaboration with neighboring agencies and the effectiveness of Flock license plate recognition technology,” said FDLPD Chief Aaron Goldstein in a news release.
By leveraging this technology FDLPD Officers were able to track the vehicle in real-time and coordinate a rapid response ensuring a safe resolution. This police work highlights the critical role of technology and collaboration in safeguarding our communities and ensuring accountability for criminal behavior.
Police remind motorists to reduce the risk of theft by never leaving their vehicles unlocked or unattended while running.
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