High-Tech Approach Could Thwart Holmdel Car Thefts

HOLMDEL, NJ — The Holmdel Township Committee will buy new technology for police to address the wave of attempted - and some successful - car thefts in the township.

Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) are cameras that automatically scan and read the
license plates of passing cars, and the committee agreed to purchase a number of stationary plate readers for placement at spots in the township. They will be in addition to two mobile scan readers the police department already uses on police cars.

The approximate cost of $160,000 is well worth it, said Mayor Greg Buontempo.

“The Holmdel Township Committee is committed to reducing vehicle theft and attempted vehicle theft within our community,” Buontempo said. “We will continue to equip the police department with the resources and technology they need to both prevent and respond to crime in Holmdel. This is the first of many investments that we are making to protect our residents.”

The Automated License Plate Reader Systems are being purchased through a sole source provider, Selex ES, Inc. totaling $157,680, according to the contract award resolution. That includes the cameras plus an array of supporting technology, both hardware and software, according to the five quotes from the company, totaling $157,680. The system is guaranteed to have reading ability of all plates including flat and vanity plates throughout the life of the system, the quotes say, and it has the ability to read and process tags at an accuracy rate of over 96 percent.

Now that the purchase is approved, the cameras will be delivered and installed as soon as possible. The quotes cite Nov. 30 as a delivery date.

They can't come soon enough.

Just on Friday morning another car was stolen in the township, police reported. At about 3:15 a.m. police spotted an Audi Q7 and Mercedes SUV driving carelessly on Crawfords Corner Road near Longstreet Road. The drivers spotted police, accelerated and drove recklessly at dangerously high speeds onto the Garden State Parkway where officers lost sight of the vehicles.

Soon after, a resident of White Birch Lane reported their Audi Q7 was stolen from their driveway. The vehicle was unlocked and the key fob was left inside. It was later learned the Mercedes SUV had been reported stolen from New York City.

This is the sort of situation that could be addressed by the new plate readers, the township officials say.

The devices have the potential to scan millions of license plates each year, according to a statement from the township.

They will help the Holmdel Township Police Department solve crimes more quickly by checking a vehicle’s plate, make, model, and color against a national database to find out if it has been reported stolen, is associated with a missing person, or is wanted as evidence in an investigation.

Holmdel Police Chief Frank Allocco explained more about the technology:

"We already have two ALPR devices mounted on police vehicles which have been very helpful. Our goal is to install stationary plate readers in strategic locations around town, so that if a stolen car drives through the township, the police department will be tipped off and we can direct our officers to a specific location,” Allocco said.

Police Capt. Jeffrey Ackerson explained the benefits of the stationary readers:

The police department "has utilized vehicle-mounted ALPRs for the last 10 years. While these devices have been successful, the downside is that they are constantly moving.

"Installing fixed-mounted ALPR devices will allow the police department to triangulate a more precise area to search for any stolen vehicles within the township.”

The Holmdel Police Department continues to urge residents to lock their vehicle doors, bring vehicle key fobs into the house with them, and report any suspicious behavior to the department as soon as possible.

Vigilance from Holmdel residents with effective police work and up-to-date technology will go a long way towards reducing attempted vehicle thefts in Holmdel Township, the township said.