'Crime-Fighting' Street Cameras Roll Across Southwest Riverside County

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Southwest Riverside County's surveillance cameras keep popping up, and the region is likely to see more.

Hemet is the latest city to expand its camera network, adding nearly 50 monitoring devices to aid law enforcement in covering all parts of the municipality, officials said Thursday.

"Hemet is dedicated to exploring and implementing innovative solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of our community," City Manager Mark Prestwich said. "These surveillance upgrades are a testament to the city's ongoing commitment to public safety, quality of life and the effective use of technology in crime prevention and response."

The City Council on Tuesday approved the use of $1.4 million in grants to fund the expansion, which involves the procurement and installation of 25 Flock Condor cameras, 20 Flock Safety Falcon cameras and the deployment of four LVT Mobile Surveillance units, according to officials.

"This initiative is more than just an investment in technology. It is an investment in our community's well-being and our business partners," police Chief Michael Arellano said.

Officials said that the new cameras will be strategically placed to monitor areas where they will prove most beneficial, including retail shopping centers and business districts.

Officers will have ready access to the system to monitor video feeds and recordings, facilitating investigations, according to the city.

Hemet is not alone. Cities across Southwest Riverside County have invested in Flock devices.

During the Jan. 24 Lake Elsinore City Council meeting, sheriff's Lt. David Clark told councilmembers that a sharp decline in vehicle thefts across the city was directly attributed to Flock cameras. The city announced in 2021 that it completed the installation of 20 Flock devices around the city.

"I'd have to credit the Flock cameras for greatly assisting us in deterring and apprehending people stealing cars," Clark said.

"It's almost like cheating," the lieutenant joked.

Canyon Lake, Menifee, Murrieta, Temecula and Wildomar also utilize the license-plate-reading cameras. The systems are capable of capturing pictures of fast-moving objects day and night.

The Murrieta Police Department states that the Flock cameras are located in strategic locations throughout its city. The images the devices capture are used to solve and reduce crime, according to the agency.

The cameras can send real-time alerts directly to MPD dispatch and officers when a stolen car or known wanted suspect from a state or national crime database enters the department's jurisdiction. The devices can also send alerts if a vehicle associated with a missing person in an AMBER or Silver Alert is detected, according to Murrieta police.

Fifty Flock cameras were approved to be installed across Temecula in 2021.

Jurisdictions beyond Southwest Riverside County are also using the cameras.

In 2022, sheriff's Lt. Ken Reichle said that adding the devices in San Jacinto led to significant arrests.

"The Flock software is super effective," he said. "Most if not all crimes involve a vehicle. Criminals are driving to commit crimes. They escape in a vehicle; they're driving around in a stolen vehicle. In Southern California, you have to transport yourself from one place to another."