Most hikers in California are well aware of the extreme danger of wildfires that exists for most of the year, but one man seems to have missed the memo. Police in Irvine, California are seeking the public's help after security footage caught the same man tampering with wildfire detection equipment multiple times.
In a Facebook post, which you can view below, Irvine PD writes that the man has been disabling and damaging the equipment, which they describe as "critical" for wildfire safety and management, in the open space near Lake Forest and Bake Parkway in Orange County.
The news release comes accompanied by several images of the gray or light-haired man caught from nearby security footage, which show him riding a bike into the area and climbing a fence to access the equipment. He is always dressed in light hiking shoes, white hiking socks and cargo shorts. In one image, he is wearing a long-sleeved base layer while another reveals him in a "National Parks" T-shirt, prompting some Facebook users to speculate he may have misguided ideological reasons for his actions.
"Interesting he has a National Parks shirt on like he cares about conservation etc. Maybe he’s confused about what these devices actually are!" writes one user.
Posted by IrvinePD on
Other commenters have offered up more creative explanations for the bizarre behavior, with one person suggesting it goes back to a popular COVID conspiracy theory:
"Check the 5g conspiracy groups. Good chance you'll find him in one of those."
Whatever the reason, the man's mysterious actions result in damage to taxpayer property and, if he prevents a wildfire from being detected early, could result in further damage to property, destruction of natural ecosystems and loss of life. If you have information about this man, please email ipdpio@cityofirvine.org
