Giant US flag recovered after stunning Roseville theft. ‘Why would someone do this?’
The giant American flag stolen earlier this week from Camping World RV in Roseville was recovered after police tracked down a suspect vehicle and returned the banner to the dealership, authorities said.
The flag had been cut loose from its towering pole Tuesday night and hauled away in the bed of a pickup truck, according to dealership officials and security footage reviewed by police.
Roseville police said officers used surveillance footage to identify a vehicle connected to the theft, located it Thursday morning in Citrus Heights and conducted a traffic stop. A person of interest was contacted, said police spokesperson Sgt. Nick Gaines, and the 3,200-square-foot flag was recovered and returned to Camping World.
No arrests had been made as of Thursday afternoon and police said they would not identify the person of interest.
“We are relieved we were able to recover the flag and return it to Camping World, however, this investigation is still active and ongoing,” Gaines said.
The theft stunned Camping World general manager Rodney Bonner, who said he first watched the security video in disbelief, which captured the caper.
“It’s crazy. It’s unbelievable that somebody would do this,” Bonner said in a telephone interview Thursday as he reviewed security footage.
“Why would someone do this? I have no answer why someone would do that,” Bonner said.
Security cameras captured the entire episode and showed a clear timeline of the crime, according to Bonner:
- At 8:17 p.m. Tuesday, nearly two hours after Camping World’s close, a truck backed into the dealership’s parking lot.
- At 8:34 p.m., the flag dropped from the flag pole to the ground.
- At 8:45 p.m., the thieves drove away with the flag.
In between, the cameras showed the thieves at work: two people cutting through a wire fence, and then using bolt cutters to snap the guide wire that held the 40-by-80-foot flag atop its towering pole, sending it crashing to the ground.
“They took a big bolt cutter and got to the 130-foot mast,” Bonner said. “They cut the stainless steel wire — the flag had to fall and hit the ground. There’s video of them throwing it in the back of the pickup.”
The flag had become a familiar sight for Interstate 80 motorists and a point of pride for the Roseville community, Bonner said. Its disappearance prompted an outpouring of calls and messages from customers and residents.
“It does brighten so many people’s lives,” Bonner said. “A lady brought over a bunch of kids to do the Pledge of Allegiance in front of it. A woman called, she said, ‘I heard about it in the news, and I want to start a GoFundMe.’ I’ve gotten calls from people who enjoy seeing it, multiple texts.”
The theft carried both an emotional and financial toll, Bonner said. He estimated the cost to repair the damaged cabling and replace the flag would total $10,800. Bonner said he had already contacted a company to recable the pole. A crew was scheduled to be on the Orlando Avenue sales lot at 9 a.m. Saturday, he said.
“We want to get a flag up there as soon as we can for the community — and for us,” he said.
This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 12:58 PM.
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