A source tells News 12 that at some point last week, four of the city's Flock Safety license plate recognition cameras were vandalized and knocked down.

"Good, I'm glad," said Milford resident Arthur Pocevic after hearing the news. "It wasn't me, but I have no problem with that."

Unlike Milford's speed cameras that were installed a couple months ago these cameras have been up for about a year.

The Milford Police Department says they detect, identify and track license plates and vehicles that might have been involved in a crime, helping police "solve crimes after they've occurred."

"I think it's very invasive and unnecessary," said Arielle Mizov, who also lives in Milford. "I think it's too much surveillance."

Similar concerns led to the towns of Windsor and Killingworth recently announcing that they would both be taking down their flock cameras.

"(The cameras are) unconstitutional - like it's Nazi Germany," said Pocevic. "Whoever voted these in, I hope next election time, they're going to be looking for a job."

The Milford Police Department says there is no facial recognition used with the cameras, and the footage is never shared with immigration enforcement or third parties.

Other than the MPD, only the Orange Police Department has access to the footage, and data is deleted after 30 days.

"They'll tell you whatever they think you want to hear," said Pocevic, "but it's all b--------."

Mizov was also skeptical, saying "data leaks happen all the time, like they might not share it, but that doesn't mean it won't be shared eventually."

Milford police list at least a dozen cases they say the cameras have helped solve, including robberies, stalking and sexual crimes involving children.

"Some people are just afraid, if they want to take pictures of my license they can, it doesn't bother me really, I have nothing to hide," said Milford resident Steve Seifert.

The source says that none of the cameras that were knocked down have been fixed yet, with News 12 able to track down one pole, which used to have a camera on it.

"That's not acceptable, you know it's never acceptable to do stuff like that, we pay for that," said George Willis, a regular visitor to the city. "If you're breaking the law, and the camera catches you, it's not the camera's fault."

Despite being against the cameras, Mizov agreed that "we can't take that kind of action, it'll just get worse and worse and dissolve into anarchy eventually."

Police confirm that vandalism did happen and tell News 12 that so far, no one has been charged.