Authorities in Macomb County's Shelby Township have arrested a 33-year-old man, Nathanael Rodger Mangold, in connection with a series of propane tank thefts. The Shelby Township Police Department, as reported by CBS News Detroit, stated that Mangold was charged with felony larceny between $1,000 and $20,000 and was released on a personal bond of $5,000.
The arrest followed a probe into at least 12 stolen propane tanks across four separate incidents. The police were able quickly to identify the suspect, thanks to the Flock Safety license plate recognition camera system and security footage. Chief of Police Robert J. Shelide extolled the technology saying, "Technology like this allows us to identify suspects faster, recover stolen property and ultimately keep our community safer from criminals like this," in a statement obtained by CBS News Detroit.
According to a social media post from the Shelby Township Police Department, the breakthrough in the case came when one of the investigating officers reviewed the surveillance footage and, using the FLOCK system, identified Mangold's vehicle. The detective bureau took over the case, followed up with the lead, and subsequently conducted a traffic stop that resulted in Mangold's arrest without incident.
Following his arraignment on Tuesday, Mangold is scheduled for a probable cause conference on September 9. As the Shelby Township community breathes a sigh of relief, the effective use of surveillance technology has proven to be a crucial tool in the swift resolution of these thefts. Chief Shelide reiterated the significance of the FLOCK camera system, stating, "Our officers and detectives worked quickly and effectively, and the FLOCK camera system played a key role in solving these 4 separate cases," according to the Shelby Township Police Department's Facebook page.
