On Dec. 7, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department got the call that three suspects had taken over the Wells Fargo bank they were robbing.
Fortunately, a witness was able to capture the license plate number as the suspects fled. A check of the National Vehicle Locator System (NVLS)—a nationwide license plate recognition database—revealed an image of the vehicle captured approximately six months prior. Meanwhile, the suspects transitioned to a different getaway car and were soon after apprehended.
But officers still needed to locate the original vehicle. They showed the image of the vehicle from the NVLS to the witness, who positively identified it. According to Deputy Kyle Hoertsch: “The color photo was so detailed you could see three distinct bumper stickers and it showed the bumper was black with the rest of the car being grey.”
An image of the vehicle was e-mailed to officers, who immediately began a search. Soon after, the vehicle was located, about one mile from the bank, with the motor running.
“I recognized the vehicle as soon as I saw it, due to the color photo,” says Hoertsch, “and reconfirming the correct plate as I got closer.”
For more information on NVLS and Vigilant Video and how they can help you improve your responses, visit www.vigilantvideo.com.
