Thieves and crime rings often target multiple businesses of the same type or in the same area, hamstringing asset protection and security teams who struggle to effectively counter these coordinated attacks due to a lack of crucial information. To help businesses join forces and thwart these crime rings, we’re thrilled to introduce a first-of-its-kind license plate matching capability that enables businesses to collaborate on investigations like never before. By sharing insights and intelligence, companies can identify patterns, suspects, and criminal networks that might not be apparent to a single security team. Flock Safety’s plate matching database helps break down investigatory silos by fostering communication that can lead to stronger, more comprehensive investigations ready for law enforcement involvement and prosecution. 

Similar to the process of "deconfliction" in law enforcement, by choosing to enter a Custom Hot List into Flock’s plate matching database, personnel across different businesses can automatically be notified of overlapping investigations that involve the same perpetrator. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Business A observes a theft from their store — which they believe could be part of an organized retail crime ring — and creates a Custom Hot List alert for license plate 8GHT123, opting into Flock’s plate matching database

Step 2: Later, Business B also creates a Custom Hot List alert for license plate 8GHT123 as a result of recurring shoplifting incidents, and opts in to the plate matching database

Step 3: Businesses A and B each receive an email containing each other’s contact information so they can begin collaborating on their ORC investigations 

Example use cases:

Organized crime rings

Retailers can expand cases by working together to track ORC and fraud suspects

Repeat shoplifters

Businesses in the same city can share information on repeat shoplifting offenders to help prevent future offenses

Parking lot crimes

Share insights with other nearby businesses regarding suspects involved in vehicle thefts, catalytic converter theft or parking lot break-ins

Plate matching and law enforcement

As a Flock customer, you have full control over your data. Joining the plate matching database is optional, and you can configure settings for each Custom Hot List. Note that turning on plate matching does not automatically share your data with law enforcement – these are two distinct functions.

Any current Falcon LPR customer can opt in to the plate matching database starting today. Learn more here.

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Don’t have LPR, but interested in bringing it to your business? Contact us to learn more.