Peninsula Plate Reader Leads To Arrests In Car Theft

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA — A license plate reader helped lead to the arrest of two suspects Sunday night in connection with a vehicle theft, South San Francisco police said.

The suspects, an 18-year-old male from South San Francisco and a 16-year-old male from Daly City were arrested on unspecified charges, police said.

The 18-year-old was subsequently booked into jail and the 16-year-old at a juvenile detention center, police said.

Officers responded to a Greenbrae Drive location after being notified by the city’s automated license plate recognition cameras of a stolen vehicle, police said.

Officers found the vehicle unoccupied, according to police.

The suspects were found to be in possession of identification and credit cards belonging to other people and burglary tools, police said.

South San Francisco launched its Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) program in November on the promise that it will help reduce crime, especially in the community’s hotel corridor, which has seen a spike in property crimes, police said.

The city installed 28 solar-powered cameras at publics locations citywide, police said.

“The use of this technology has already proven to be a game changer in the fight against crime and a valuable tool for our officers to help solve otherwise difficult-to-solve cases,” SSF Police Chief Scott Campbell said in a statement.

“The safety of our residents and visitors is paramount and the investment in this program shows how committed we are to keeping South San Francisco a safe place.”