Rapid number plate reader helps locate stolen cars

During a recent city council meeting, City Manager Eileen Bensen called on Police Chief Robert Schommer to outline a homeland security grant the department has received. He said the grant was to purchase a rapid license plate reader, a device which is mounted on the cruiser, which is basically a camera and reads about 1800 license plates per minute.

“The license plates are read for stolen vehicles, wanted people, missing persons, amber alerts, people of interest for homeland security and any other type of vehicle or information that we want to put into it so that we can immediately identify the vehicle as it drives by one of the cruisers with the devices in it. It’s a pretty exciting thing. Many communities have them. They’ve shown great success in locating stolen cars, recovering parked stolen cars and moving stolen cars as well as warrants and wanted people.”

The license plate reader cost was completely covered by a joint grant administered by Dayton Police Department.

“The system was installed this week and after training next week, we will deploy it for use,” Schommer told the Courier on Thursday.

Schommer then talked about another piece of equipment, a flash cam to help the department combat some graffiti problems. The Flashcam was purchased for $5,000.

“This is a very overt piece of equipment that is intended to warn, flash, light, take pictures and everything of anybody that comes within proximity of an area suspect or susceptible to graffiti.”

The third piece of equipment is a scout alarm system the department has purchased for $4,500 in preparation for the school construction.

“Construction sites are targeted heavily for theft,” said Schommer. “…This is a mobile alarm system that directly reports to the police cruisers via the police radio. So as soon as somebody would enter the premise after hours, it immediately calls and notifies the beat officers so that we can get there and hopefully stop any damage or theft. We’re hoping to roll that out about the time construction starts and hopefully reduce some theft and protect the assets of the schools.”

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