$3.4 Million Worth Of Stolen Cars Recovered With 'Eye On Crime'

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — A certain "eye" has helped recover 226 stolen vehicles in Hillsborough County worth more than $3.4 million dollars in the last two years, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said.

More than 100 Eye on Crime cameras were placed throughout the county that has acted as "virtual backup" to deputies. The cameras are mounted to utility poles, and relay information to officers before they arrive to a crime location.

"Our Eye on Crime cameras help us identify the bad guys, recover stolen vehicles, and in some cases, solve crimes," Sheriff Chad Chronister said. "They provide us with an extra set of eyes in the sky to protect and serve our community.

In 2020, 219 people were arrested with the help of the cameras, authorities said. In 2019, 184 stolen vehicles worth almost $1.5 million were recovered, while 139 arrests were made in part from the assistance of Eye on Crime cameras.

The cameras have been in use by the sheriff's office since 2010.