Armed Robberies Dating Back One Year Solved Using Vigilant License Plate Reader (LPR) and Historical LPR Data
LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA (January 13, 2015) – Vigilant Solutions announces today that Conyers Police Department used its license plate reader (LPR) system, historical LPR data and LEARN® analytic software to identify and apprehend a suspect in a series of at least thirty-five armed robberies dating back over one year in Conyers, Georgia and other areas around the state.
Sergeant Guy Sanders explains, “A masked man armed with a handgun robbed a local title loan and pawn shop, Title Bucks, here in Conyers. The suspect locked the employees and a customer in the back room before he fled the scene. Prior to receiving the 911 call, Officer Spencer Holland noticed a two-toned black and tan Ford Expedition driving erratically in the area. The officer was on his way to another call, so he was unable to address the violation at that time. A short time later, Officer Holland saw the Expedition again heading away from the Title Bucks location. Officer Holland’s patrol unit is equipped with a Vigilant License Plate Reader (LPR) system which captured and recorded the Expedition’s tag information as he responded to the robbery call that had now been dispatched.
Officer Holland recalled a previous lookout for a black over tan SUV involved in a similar title pawn robbery in Gwinnett. Only two days later, the same Ford Expedition was again captured on camera leaving the area of another title pawn robbery in Newnan, Georgia. As a result, having proper cause under the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), the vehicle license plate was used to look up the registered owner for the vehicle, and an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect for Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, and Aggravated Assault. With the assistance of the FBI, the suspect was located and taken into custody without incident. The ongoing investigation now has the individual in custody suspected of at least thirty-five similar robberies through the state dating back well over a year. The LPR system from Vigilant and the historical data in LEARN was the catalyst that broke the investigation wide open.”
“We are happy to hear that Conyers has seen success with the system, and we are confident that they will see many more successes in the future,” states Brian Shockley, Vice President of Marketing. “This technology and the historical data have a remarkable ability to help develop leads in pattern crimes and major crimes investigations. Congratulations to the Conyers PD on a job well done.”
About Vigilant Solutions:
Based in Livermore, California, Vigilant Solutions is an industry-leading pioneer of innovative intelligence solutions that help law enforcement protect officers, families and communities. For additional information, visit www.vigilantsolutions.com.
