The Power of LPR: 4 Real World Use Cases in Law Enforcement

Learn how LPR is transforming law enforcement, from catching organized criminals like the Felony Lane Gang to detecting plate swapping and vehicle convoys.

A police car on the street in the US

License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology has advanced far beyond its original role of simply reading plate numbers. Today’s modern LPR systems integrate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to perform advanced pattern recognition, track vehicle behaviors, and capture comprehensive data in real-time. These systems can now operate in diverse conditions, such as low light, poor weather, or high-speed traffic.

This leap in capability has made LPR an indispensable tool for law enforcement. Though it still can’t fetch them their coffee during long stakeouts, LPR helps officers respond faster to crime with the help of real-time alerts and actionable insights.

Let’s take a look at 4 real world examples where LPR has provided critical support in complex scenarios, revolutionizing how law enforcement agencies increasingly use technology to combat crime.

A man in a black hoodie trying to break into a parked car

Felony Lane Gang

 

The Felony Lane Gang is a notorious criminal organization known for its highly organized theft and fraud operations across the U.S. They specialize in stealing checks, IDs, and credit cards from vehicles, often targeting parking lots at locations like daycares, gyms and parks.

The gang operates on a large scale, frequently using rental cars and disguises to carry out their activities, making them difficult to track. Their criminal network spans multiple states, with members executing carefully coordinated heists worthy of being made into the next hit Netflix series.

They often use the lanes of drive-thru banks that are farthest from the teller (nicknamed “felony lanes”) to avoid detection while cashing stolen checks. The gang's operations have led to millions of dollars in losses for victims and businesses.

Due to the gang’s heavy use of vehicles in their crimes, LPR becomes a key technology used by law enforcement agencies to not only track the suspects’ vehicles across different areas, but also be alerted to their presence at any LPR locations.

For example, two members of the Felony Lane Gang were apprehended after law enforcement agencies used LPR systems to track their vehicles, ultimately linking their movements to various crime scenes.

This real-time intelligence helped police locate and arrest the individuals involved, providing crucial evidence that tied them to the gang’s activities.

Vehicle license plates from different parts of the United States mounted on a wall

Plate Swapping

Criminals often use a strategy called plate swapping to avoid capture, where they steal license plates from one vehicle and place them on another. This tactic makes it difficult for law enforcement to identify stolen vehicles because the plates may not raise immediate suspicion.

However, modern LPR software captures more than just the plate number. It also collects detailed information about the vehicle, such as its make, model, color, type and the owner’s favorite ice-cream flavor. Er…scratch that last one. The software instantly alerts officers when it identifies a mismatch between the plate number and the other vehicle details.

Criminals try to stay one step ahead by targeting vehicles that closely resemble the stolen plate’s original car. This makes the switch less noticeable, as a quick glance wouldn’t reveal any obvious discrepancies.

LPR systems, however, can still identify slight differences, helping track down mismatched vehicles even when the swap appears convincing. In this ability, LPR comes second only to a suspicious wife catching the faintest trace of lipstick on her husband’s shirt.

With criminals now able to even purchase stolen plates through online marketplaces, it has become easier for offenders to access plates from different regions, expanding their ability to evade detection across state lines.

This evolution in criminal patterns is constantly pushing further advancements in LPR systems to help law enforcement keep pace with tech-savvy criminals.

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Many cars on a highway in Los Angeles

Convoy Detection

 

Convoy detection is a sophisticated use of LPR, particularly in cases where criminals operate in groups of vehicles. In such operations, one or more vehicles actively participate in the crime, while others provide support by acting as lookouts, spotters, or creating distractions. These vehicles may not travel together or appear connected, but are spread out to avoid detection.

By analyzing not just license plates but also the timing, locations, and behaviors of vehicles, AI-powered LPR systems are able to recognize potential convoys, even if the vehicles are spread out.

These LPR systems can detect repeated patterns, such as vehicles entering or leaving crime scenes in a coordinated manner. Furthermore, they are able to track vehicles across different locations, highlighting connections between those that may appear unrelated at first glance.

It’s like solving a giant puzzles, but with getaway cars instead of jigsaw pieces. Such a task that would otherwise require hundreds, if not thousands, of man hours.

This capability helps police track down both the main perpetrators and their accomplices, building a more complete picture of criminal activities and providing critical evidence linking various vehicles to a crime.

Different colored pins on a map connected with a thread to show relationship between the locations

Common Plates Across Areas of Interest

 

Many criminal activities like transactions involving drugs or human trafficking take place on the premises of legitimate businesses where it becomes extremely difficult for police officers to separate the vehicles involved in suspicious activities from the innocent ones.

Law Enforcement agencies use LPR systems to capture vehicle data across time and locations, feeding this information into highly advanced pattern recognition algorithms that identify vehicles making frequent stops at these suspected locations.

By detecting recurring patterns, LPR systems allow police to prioritize suspicious vehicles for investigation. This process involves comparing the frequency, timing, and locations of vehicles in areas of interest, which can highlight vehicles that need to be looked at more closely.

With this technology, law enforcement can build cases against criminals while maintaining the integrity of businesses operating legally. It also reduces the need for large-scale investigations that may interfere with innocent citizens, allowing police to more efficiently target organized crime while minimizing collateral impact.

One effort that has shown to have a deterrent effect on crime is for businesses to advertise the fact that their premises are fortified with LPR-enabled security systems.

Wrap Up

 

  • As LPR technology continues to advance, it is becoming an essential tool in modern law enforcement, empowering officers with the ability to act swiftly and efficiently.
  • By harnessing the power of AI and ML for advanced pattern recognition, LPR systems help identify complex criminal activities that would otherwise go unnoticed.
  • LPR is revolutionizing the way law enforcement operates, providing invaluable support in solving crimes and ensuring public safety.