102 alerts, 56 recovered cars and 50 arrests: License plate cameras have helped Garner police solve crimes in first six months of use

Since Garner leaders implemented 15 Flock Safety ALPR cameras in February throughout the town, police said the technology has scanned license plates to track down suspects, recover stolen cars, track down criminals wanted on an outstanding warrant and help find missing people.

“I never noticed that before in my life,” said Garner resident John Clifford.

The ALPR network delivers real-time alerts to law enforcement when a vehicle with a license plate that has been reported as either stolen or linked to a crime passes a camera. The license plate readers can also alert officers if a vehicle is associated with an active Amber or Silver Alert.

Flock Safety said the cameras do not have any facial recognition software and all footage is deleted after 30 days.

“All of the officers who are on patrol at the time, we would immediately jump on the radio and start organizing some plan of attack to get over there, surround the area and try to quarantine that vehicle into the location,” Garner police officer Steven Ferrari said.

Since February, the cameras have alerted Garner police 102 times as of Tuesday. It’s led to 56 recovered cars and 50 arrests.

“That’s huge,” Clifford said. “That sounds really significant.”

Clifford said he supports the cameras but understands why some have expressed privacy concerns. Garner police said they don’t use the video for surveillance — or lower-level offenses, like expired tags. Also, police only record plates in public spaces.

“We are trying to get the actual criminals off the street,” Ferrari said.

Garner Police Department Capt. Chris Adams shared what he’s seen so far.

“Most of these situations are crimes that are committed in other areas and they come to Garner and most likely are looking to commit other crimes,” Adams said. “So, it is vitally important for us to be able to locate these people as they are coming into our jurisdiction.”

Ferrari echoed Adams’ sentiments about criminals trying to avoid the cameras.

“Criminals are little more weary of coming and going from areas and towns where these cameras are in [use] because they don’t want to risk passing through and getting scooped up by one of us, potentially,” Ferrari said.

Adams said, in many cases, the traffic stops lead to the seizure of illegal drugs and guns.

“You may get a hit on a vehicle and stop it for one reason, and you uncover so much more,” Adams said.

The program cost the town $39,375 to launch and it has an annual cost of $37,500.

License plate cameras help Garner police solve crimes

Since the town of Knightdale implemented its Flock cameras in March, they have alerted police 24 times and officers have made five arrests. The cameras have helped identify suspects in a sexual assault and a series of car break-ins involving stolen guns in May and June at town parks.

The Nash County Sheriff’s Office credits its three cameras, which they started using in January, with helping track down suspects in stolen vehicle and breaking-and-entering cases.