By John 
A Mount Dora license plate reader helped police solve its own theft after a suspect reportedly removed the device from an intersection and took it home. According to Mount Dora Police, the stolen equipment was part of a public safety system valued at about $13,000.
The device, a Flock License Plate Reader, was taken from its mounted location before officers discovered the disappearance. Police said the technology immediately documented the theft in progress, automatically sending footage and data back to the department. The system’s built-in GPS then transmitted its movements in real time, showing investigators the route it traveled and the location where it ultimately stopped.
Officers followed the tracking information to a residence, where they located the missing reader and took the suspect into custody. Police did not release further details about the individual involved or any potential charges.
Flock systems are designed to capture detailed information about vehicles moving through an area. Beyond plate numbers, the readers identify characteristics such as make, body type, color, plate state, whether a vehicle is registered locally, and additional distinguishing features like roof racks or window decals. The technology does not collect personal data or use facial recognition.
Communities use the readers for a range of purposes, including monitoring vehicles entering or leaving evacuation zones, aiding search operations, identifying suspicious traffic patterns, tracking stolen vehicles and supporting missing-person investigations. The Mount Dora Police Department said all information in the case was gathered through its own reporting.
The unusual incident demonstrated the system’s capabilities in a way few might expect: by allowing authorities to quickly track down the person who removed it.
Shawn Henry