Next week, Flossmoor will begin the process of having license plate reader (LPR) cameras installed by Flock Safety in the village at key intersections.
LPR) cameras have been used by law enforcement officials for many years to help solve multiple crimes across the country.
On Wednesday, March 27, the cameras will be installed on 12-foot high poles at Flossmoor Road at Sterling Avenue and Flossmoor Road at Dixie Highway.
On Monday, April 1, a camera will be installed at Sterling Avenue and Heather Road. Eight additional LPR cameras will be installed later this spring, pending agreements with intergovernmental and state agencies.
The cameras will be used for investigative purposes only, not as a means for ticketing traffic offenders.
The cameras provide visuals of vehicles and the registered owners’ information, displays the direction of travel, and — when used in conjunction with other strategically placed cameras — can outline the vehicular travel path of a suspect before, during and after a crime.
Cameras can also alert officers when a vehicle passes through that had been reported stolen. Information taken by the cameras is only stored for 30 days, if it is not flagged for an investigation.
“These cameras are force-multipliers,” Acting Police Chief Keith Taylor said. “They will make our investigations more efficient.”
Funding for the cameras came in part from a $85,000 Illinois Attorney General Organized Retail Crime Grant. Anyone who has questions about the LPR cameras can call the police non-emergency number at 708-957-4500 or email [email protected].
Related story:
Flossmoor board approves installation of license plate reader cameras to aid police investigations (Feb. 13, 2024).