Long Beach Police Department and PIPS Technology
Mobile Liscense Plate Recognition System
Following an extensive evaluation process, Long Beach Police
Department acquired four (4) PIPS’ mobile automated license
plate recognition (ALPR) systems in December 2005. Despite
other crime rates decreasing in Long Beach, auto theft rates have
been on the rise for the past three years. The ALPR systems were
acquired primarily to combat this trend.
The first six months have produced amazing results.
- 1.4 million plates read
- 929 lost or stolen plates identified
- 275 vehicle recoveries
- 50 arrests
“The ALPR system does not discriminate,” states Sergeant Chris
Morgan. “It almost eliminates any problems with profiling. The
camera doesn’t distinguish the color of a driver’s skin or the
condition of the car.”
Stolen Vehicles
An LBPD officer received a stolen vehicle alert from the ALPR
system. The Night Auto Theft Detail set up surveillance on
the stolen vehicle until the suspects arrived. An arrest was
made and five high value cars were recovered.
Drug and Identity Theft
A stolen vehicle alert notified an LBPD officer that the
suspect traveling in the vehicle should be considered armed
and dangerous. Surveillance was established on the vehicle,
the suspect was followed to an apartment where an arrest
was made. Large amounts of methamphetamine, marijuana,
and identity theft profiles were recovered.
Carjacking
An off-duty officer was the victim of a carjacking with limited
information on suspects. After the ALPR system identified
another stolen vehicle, surveillance led the LBPD Career
Criminal Apprehension Team to identify the suspect as the
perpetrator of the carjacking. An arrest was made.
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