04/29/2026
What a Tuesday! Over the course of eight hours, officers received six key Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) alerts—each helping identify suspects and crimes that might otherwise have gone undetected without Flock ALPR technology. These alerts not only supported enforcement within our city, but also contributed to broader regional successes—helping partner agencies recover stolen property, solve cases across jurisdictions, and minimize further victimization in our community and beyond.
Here’s a rundown of the day’s activity:
At 12:07 p.m., officers received an alert about a vehicle stolen out of Fremont entering the city. They located a matching vehicle parked in the Whole Foods lot at Ashby and Telegraph. While the make, model, and color aligned, it was ultimately determined to be a different vehicle with stolen or switched license plates.
Minutes later, another alert flagged a vehicle linked to suspects involved in the theft of more than $6,000 worth of merchandise from a Sunglass Hut in Palo Alto. Officers conducted a stop at 2nd and Gilman, recovering approximately $2,000 in stolen sunglasses along with evidence tied to the earlier crime.
At 12:22 p.m., officers were alerted to a vehicle connected to a grand theft at a Macy’s in San Mateo. Bike officers located the vehicle parked in an off-street lot near Fourth Street and Hearst Avenue and maintained surveillance. When the suspect returned, she was detained. Officers recovered multiple stolen items from the Berkeley Anthropologie store, as well as a device used to bypass retail security sensors.
At 3:59 p.m., an alert identified a vehicle associated with a grand theft from a jewelry store in Walnut Creek entering the city. Officers located the vehicle and suspect on Telegraph Avenue and notified Walnut Creek Police Department.
At 4:18 p.m., officers received an alert about a vehicle returning to the city in connection with a mail theft incident in Downtown Berkeley. The suspect was later located near Ashby Avenue and Ninth Street and taken into custody.
Finally, at 8:32 p.m., an alert flagged a vehicle tied to an organized retail theft in Emeryville. A CHP helicopter happened to be in the area and assisted by directing officers to the vehicle near Cedar and Josephine streets. Officers notified Emeryville Police Department and recovered drugs and evidence of identity theft.
Across each of these incidents, ALPR technology played a critical role in enabling swift, coordinated responses—strengthening regional partnerships, improving case outcomes, and helping prevent additional crimes from occurring.
