When law enforcement first embraced license plate reader (LPR) technology, most departments used the readers to identify and recover stolen vehicles. In fact, many agencies funded their programs with grants designed to fight auto theft or even with donations from insurance companies. As LPR became more common, many departments realized that the real value is in the LPR data. Because every LPR record has a time and geo-stamp attached to it, an LPR database is a tremendous resource when it comes to crime fighting and it’s made even more powerful when agencies combine their data to provide a broader view of vehicles frequenting neighboring jurisdictions.
The intent of this LPR overview is to encourage you to think beyond the traditional LPR database uses. Doing so will provide insight to criminal activity that you never thought possible. There is a caveat, though: You’d be hard pressed to find this ability in a turnkey solution from an existing LPR vendor. Although this is beginning to change, what you really need to make your program sing is a talented crime analyst with database and spreadsheet knowledge. Everything I’m going to outline for you can be done today. It only requires a little retooling and a willingness to push the envelope.
Outside the Box
Investigating a crime series: Using the specific locations, times and dates of relevant crimes, an LPR database can be queried for vehicles that exceed frequency, timeframe and distance thresholds set by the user. The resulting list is then sorted by frequency with the higher frequency being indicative of greater potential for a relationship to a crime series.
Example: A robber known as the Big Belly Bandit has hit seven banks in four towns over a period of three weeks. All of the towns are using mobile (car mounted) LPR. A crime analyst first compiles the specific time and location information on the bank robberies. Next, a query of the LPR database (hopefully shared by the four affected towns) is conducted. The query is structured to look for any LPR capture that was made within a half mile of a robbery scene and plus/minus a half hour from the time of the robbery. Returns that show vehicles with an occurrence equal to or greater than two should be reviewed by an investigator for possible involvement in the crimes.
This example also points out the importance of regularly using LPR technology in areas that are experiencing crime. Even when you haven’t yet identified a wanted vehicle, LPR will be gathering information that can help provide a short list of potential suspect vehicles.
Criminal associate identification: It can be resource-intensive to identify a network of criminal associates. However, once a key person or persons are identified, an LPR database can be leveraged to assist in the identification of potential associates and those meriting further monitoring or investigation.
Example: Subject A becomes the target of a task force investigation. In the initial workup, it’s determined that he frequently uses two different vehicles. The plates from these vehicles are queried in LPR and plotted on a map. The system is then further queried to find vehicles with LPR captures that are within ½ mile and plus/minus 30 minutes of Subject A’s plotted locations with a frequency that is greater than or equal to two. The threshold of query can vary as appropriate. In other words, a wider or narrower net can be used as the investigative priority warrants. This same type of effort can be used to identify the general meeting spot(s) of criminal associates and counter-surveillance vehicles—information that’s invaluable in rolling surveillance operations.
Serious offender advisory: In many states, sex offenders, convicted arsonists and narcotic traffickers all have to register with the police. Those who fall within these categories are usually of great interest to law enforcement.
Assuming the vehicle information is known or accessible, a database with associated vehicles can be used to establish a vehicle of interest advisory list. A mobile LPR camera would then notify an officer of the vehicle’s presence. It’s important to note that this information would only be advisory, not actionable. It would require both training and judgment on the part of the officer. Have concerns? Consider this: We all know of the patrol officer who keeps this information in his or her head and bases their patrol efforts accordingly. Using LPR technology simply extends this ability to other officers.
Identifying areas needing extra patrol: Queries of vehicle activity related to the persons listed in the previous example could result in a map showing where additional patrol or surveillance is warranted. Example: The vehicles used by narcotic registrants are checked in the LPR system and a map generated to show the LPR reads. A clustering of LPR captures from multiple vehicles could indicate a spot that merits additional patrol efforts due to potential for narcotic sales. Again, this is information that begins an investigative process, not info that provides conclusive proof of criminal activity.
Protection of infrastructure: Areas with high-risk infrastructure can use LPR systems to better protect these fixed and known resources. Using LPR, an analyst can develop an analytic that “watches” the database for vehicles that frequent the infrastructure with a pattern that causes concern. For instance, a vehicle picked up near a power plant and a water treatment facility within 48 hours might be a terrorist in recon mode. Of course, it might also be a mobile food truck that services the facilities. The point: LPR can and should be used in a proactive mode but you have to develop this ability to meet your area’s needs.
Arson investigation: Many parts of the country experience arson-set fires and these can be extremely difficult to investigate. When fire season comes along, make sure your LPR cars are frequenting these arson-prone areas. If you get an arson fire, check through your reads for any plates associated with known arsonists. If you have multiple fires, use the system in the same manner as outlined for the crime series section. To work effectively, you have to keep those LPR cars working in the areas that have the greatest level of potential activity—and it won’t be in the PD parking lot!
Smacking smugglers: Checking plates for previous reads of vehicles being used in the smuggling of persons or narcotics could provide very useful information in terms of pickup/drop-off points, spotter vehicles, etc.
Retroactive investigation of criminal activity: After arresting a suspect for a burglary, an investigator can check the suspect’s vehicle in the LPR database, then plot the pattern of previous captures and compare it with other reported crimes to identify crimes related to the suspect.
Amber and Silver alerts: Once a vehicle is identified, LPR is used in two ways: 1) Immediate entry as a vehicle of interest so that the systems can “look” for it and alert operators; and 2) to query the database to identify previous locations so they can be checked and monitored.
Conclusion
Some of the above use cases provide information that is more advisory than conclusive. The technology is powerful and must be used judiciously. Law enforcement must consider it along with other investigative databases and evidence. Some agencies may not be comfortable with an LPR “alert” associated with a vehicle used by a known gang member (or other target group) because of the potential for unwarranted levels of police contact. This is an area for training and policy—make sure you do this before you create a problem for your agency and others.
LPR technology is one of the most effective force multipliers that LE has. Sit down with your crime analyst to discuss using LPR proactively and don’t forget to leverage your “people” databases in the same manner. Better yet, have your analyst work up the information in layers so that you can combine views of people and vehicles.
