In St. Augustine's Gran Lake neighborhood, Flock Safety LPR cameras have been strategically deployed to bolster community safety and deter criminal activities, as described by Gran Lake Homeowners Association President Paul Proios. 

These cameras offer an additional layer of protection for residents, scanning the license plates of every vehicle entering and exiting the area. Proios emphasized the effectiveness of this technology in both identifying suspects and serving as a deterrent, sharing instances where it aided in solving crimes and holding perpetrators accountable. 

He noted that traditional surveillance cameras alone can be insufficient. License plate readers allow neighborhoods to provide crucial information to law enforcement in real-time – significantly improving the chances of resolving criminal incidents swiftly and successfully.

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"If something bad were to happen, or somebody were to be kidnapped, we have an edge on that. We can know what's going on. The Sheriff is notified immediately."‍

  – Gran Lake Homeowners Association President Paul Proios

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In July, the Flock Safety LPR cameras played a pivotal role in locating the vehicle of the suspects responsible for vandalizing the Gran Lake and TrailMark Community amenity centers which resulted in $12,000 of damage. By providing the LPR footage to local law enforcement, the community was able to hold the suspects accountable for the damage. 

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"Those license plate readers were actually able to catch the suspect vehicle that was committing these crimes on camera."
   – St. Johns County Sheriff's Office Sergeant Kyle Cubbedge

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Most recently, the Flock Safety Sparrow® LPR cameras were used to quickly track down two men accused of stealing appliances from homes under construction on Silver Birch Street in St. Augustine

Beyond the success that the Gran Lake neighborhood has experienced with the cameras, since 2018, county officials credit Flock Safety Falcon® LPR cameras with playing a role in:

• 129 outstanding warrants
• 81 missing individuals
• 552 charged with a crime
• 704 felony charges
• 346 misdemeanor charges

Overall, the cameras are deterring criminals and generating investigative leads. This partnership between neighborhood associations and local law enforcement is allowing crimes to be solved more quickly in St. Augustine, ultimately helping shape a safer future for the community.

"If you're going to do something bad to this neighborhood, we're going to catch you.” – Gran Lake Homeowners Association President Paul Proios