Flock Cameras In Secaucus Located 2 Stolen Cars Last Week

SECAUCUS, NJ — Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR/LPR), or "flock cameras" as they're called, have gotten a lot of criticism: Those against flock cameras say they violate Americans' right to privacy because they record all cars on the road, not just cars suspected of being involved in a crime.

But last week, those cameras in Secaucus led to the arrest of two people, in two different incidents, for allegedly driving stolen cars. The cameras also contributed to a third arrest for someone driving with a stolen license plate.

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In the first incident, a North Carolina woman was arrested last Monday, Oct. 19, in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn for driving a stolen U-Haul van, said police. She was charged with receiving stolen property. Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said the stolen vehicle first popped up on a License Plate Reader camera in town, but he did not want to reveal where the specific camera is located.

Then, two days later, a second stolen U-Haul vehicle, this time a truck, pinged on a License Plate Reader camera in town. Secaucus Police tried to pull the truck over on Paterson Plank Road, but the driver, Malyus Spencer, 28, of Brooklyn, got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. He was chased by Secaucus Police, and police used the department's drone and a police K9 to locate him. Spencer was charged with Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle [2C:20-10.2], Obstructing the Administration of Law [2C:29-1A] and Possession of Burglar Tools [2C:5-5A(1)] (Police say he had "slim jims" on him, which is a tool that can unlock cars.)

And third, David Ocena of Colonia was stopped Sunday in Secaucus after the license plate on his car popped up on an LPR camera as stolen. He was charged with Receiving Stolen Property [2C:20-7A].

It was Gov. Phil Murphy who pledged $10 million in state funding in 2023 to expand License Plate Reader cameras to North Jersey towns, as there was a spree of car thefts that year, particularly in North Jersey suburbs.

In 2024, the Secaucus Police Dept. installed license plate recognition cameras, known as LPRs, at all entrances/exits in Secaucus. At the time, Miller did not specify the exact roads. He just said: "All points of ingress/egress in or out of town will be covered." But that likely includes all the exits from Rt. 3, all the Turnpike off- and on-ramps, and along Paterson Plank Road and Secaucus Road as they enter Secaucus from Jersey City.

Secaucus Installing License-Plate Recognition Cameras Throughout Town (January 2024)

Police are alerted if a camera picks up a license plate that has been reported stolen. The cameras could also be used in Amber, Silver or other missing person alerts, or when looking for a vehicle involved in a crime.

Read more from the Secaucus Police Blotter, Oct. 19 - Oct. 25