Eyes on the Street: How Flock Cameras Are Making East Palo Alto Safer

Mark Dinan -

On April 7, 2026, the East Palo Alto City Council will once again convene to debate the ongoing usage and efficacy of the Flock Safety ALPR (Automated License Plate Reader) system. To ensure residents are fully informed, the City of East Palo Alto regularly publishes detailed transparency reports that outline how these cameras are being deployed to investigate and prevent crime. The following summary highlights specific, documented instances where Flock technology provided critical evidence, assisted in the recovery of stolen property, and helped East Palo Alto Police Department officers apprehend suspects in high-priority cases ranging from retail theft to violent assaults.

Summary of Notable Flock Camera Activity: January 2025 - March 2026

  • Stolen Vehicle (Jan 3): System alerted on a stolen vehicle; officers located the car and arrested the driver.
  • Armed Robbery Suspect (Jan 3): System flagged a vehicle wanted for Oakland robberies. The vehicle failed to yield to officers and was lost.
  • Robbery Assistance (Jan 3): System data assisted in an East Palo Alto robbery committed by the suspect vehicle mentioned above.
  • Assault Case (Jan 4): Officers used the system to locate a license plate associated with an assault.
  • Retail Theft (Jan 7): Data helped locate a vehicle used in a theft at Nordstrom Rack.
  • Stolen Vehicle Recovery (Jan 8): Officers located a stolen vehicle that fled at high speed; it was later found abandoned and returned to the owner.
  • Wanted Vehicle (Jan 14): Alert for a vehicle wanted by San Jose PD; Menlo Park Police located and recovered it.
  • Hit and Run Tracking (Jan 16): Officers entered a suspect vehicle into the system to monitor for its return.
  • Felony DUI (Jan 19): System assisted in a felony hit and run investigation leading to a DUI arrest.
  • Hit and Run Arrest (Jan 21): System helped locate a hit and run vehicle; the driver was arrested.
  • Hit and Run Follow-up (Jan 21): System assisted in locating a second hit and run vehicle; case remained pending.
  • Felony Vehicle Impound (Jan 22): Alert for a wanted felony vehicle from Newark PD; occupants were detained and the car impounded.
  • Fleeing Vehicle Alert (Jan 23): System alerted on a vehicle that had fled from officers earlier in the week.
  • Multi-Agency Recovery (Jan 23): Information on a stolen vehicle was shared with Menlo Park Police, who arrested the occupant.
  • Unoccupied Recoveries (Jan 25, 26, 30): In three separate instances, stolen vehicles were located unoccupied and returned to their owners.
  • Hit and Run Admission (Jan 27): Officers located a suspect vehicle; the driver was contacted and admitted to the crime.

March 2025

  • Threats Case (March 4): System used to locate a license plate involved in a threats case.
  • Shooting Investigation (March 5): Detectives used the system to locate a vehicle involved in a March 3rd shooting.
  • Hit and Run Tow (March 7): A suspect vehicle in a hit and run was located and towed.
  • Stolen Vehicle Recovery (March 8): Officers located an unoccupied stolen vehicle and returned it to the owner.
  • Local Stolen Vehicle (March 9): System used to locate a vehicle stolen within East Palo Alto.
  • Palo Alto PD Assistance (March 11): A vehicle that fled from Palo Alto Police was located unoccupied and towed.
  • Alameda County Recovery (March 16): A vehicle reported stolen was tracked through the system and recovered occupied in Alameda County.
  • 7-Eleven Robbery (March 19): Detectives identified a suspect vehicle used in a robbery in a 7-Eleven parking lot.
  • Stolen Vehicle removal (March 26): System alerted on a stolen vehicle; the driver was found to have recovered it himself without reporting it to police.

June & July 2025

  • Critical Hit and Run (June 2): System used to track a suspect who fled after leaving a victim in critical condition; suspect was arrested.
  • Business Robbery (June 26): System identified a suspect vehicle, which was located in Hayward; the suspect was arrested and property recovered.
  • Unoccupied Recoveries (July 2, 3): Two separate stolen vehicles were located unoccupied and returned to owners.
  • Domestic Violence/Firearm (July 14): System tracked a fleeing suspect who had brandished a firearm; the suspect was arrested.
  • Reckless Driving Warrant (July 23): System used to identify a vehicle that fled from a stop; a 30-day seizure warrant was issued.
  • Stolen Vehicle Arrest (July 24): Officers alerted to a stolen vehicle; the driver was arrested and the car returned to its owner.
  • Handgun Possession (July 30): System located a vehicle associated with suspects reported to have a handgun; firearm was recovered.

September & October 2025

  • Stolen Trailer (Sept 4): Alert for a stolen trailer led to the detention of the driver and recovery of property.
  • Hit and Run (Sept 5): System located a vehicle involved in a hit and run, identifying the driver.
  • Home Depot Theft (Sept 9): Officers tracked a theft suspect, arrested them, and recovered $1,500 in tools.
  • Grand Theft Leads (Oct 8): System used to identify a license plate from a vehicle description in a grand theft case.
  • Stolen Vehicle Arrest (Oct 9): Officers located a stolen vehicle and arrested the driver.
  • Menlo Park Assistance (Oct 23, 25): In two separate alerts, officers located vehicles wanted for grand theft or stolen from Menlo Park.

November & December 2025

  • Shooting/Stalking (Nov 8): System identified a suspect vehicle from a prior shooting and ongoing stalking; suspect arrested.
  • Injury Hit and Run (Nov 11): Suspect identified via system and arrested for felony DUI and hit and run.
  • Stolen U-Haul (Nov 13): Stolen van located; driver arrested by the County Vehicle Theft Task Force.
  • Stolen Vehicle (Nov 14): Occupied stolen vehicle located; driver arrested.
  • Assault Leads (Nov 27): System provided leads on suspect and victim vehicles in a severe assault case; suspect arrested.
  • Fordham St. Robbery (Dec 28): System confirmed a suspect vehicle's presence during a robbery; suspect later crashed during a pursuit and was arrested.

January 2026

  • Foster City Suspect (Jan 6-8): A vehicle that fled a stop was identified and linked to a felony domestic violence suspect; suspect arrested at Home Depot.
  • Wanted Vehicle Impound (Jan 9): Wanted vehicle located and impounded for the originating agency.
  • Nordstrom Rack Shoplifting (Jan 15): System obtained a plate for a fleeing suspect; suspect was arrested and property returned.
  • Hit and Run Arrest (Jan 16): Officers alerted to a suspect vehicle's location on University Ave; driver was arrested.
  • Domestic Violence/Robbery (Jan 22): System used by the Sheriff's Office to locate a suspect who fled a scene; suspect was arrested.
  • Armed Robbery Spree (Dec 26, 2025 – Jan 12, 2026): System linked multiple carjackings and robberies across the Bay Area, leading to several arrests in San Bruno and Redwood City.

February & March 2026

  • At-Risk Missing Person (Feb 12): System tracked an elderly person's vehicle through San Jose and Sunnyvale; person was found safely.
  • Attempted Murder (Feb 14): System identified a stabbing suspect's plate; suspect was arrested in San Francisco.
  • Pursuit and Warrant (Feb 16): Driver of a stolen vehicle fled; system identified the driver, and a warrant is being sought.
  • Hit and Run (Feb 16): System determined direction of flight; driver identified and warrant being sought.
  • Robbery Follow-up (Feb 17): Suspect vehicle located in Daly City using their system data.
  • Wanted Robbery Vehicle (Feb 19): Vehicle wanted by San Jose PD located occupied.
  • Domestic Violence (Feb 23): Detectives used system to locate and arrest a suspect in a felony domestic violence case.
  • Jewelry Robbery (March 7): System used to identify a suspect vehicle; search warrants led to evidence of additional robberies and suspects.
  • Hit and Run/Firearm (March 13): Suspect vehicle located; a loaded firearm was found in plain view and the driver was arrested.
  • Carjacking (March 16): Vehicle stolen at gunpoint tracked to San Jose, where two suspects were arrested.
  • Wanted Vehicle Impound (March 17): Vehicle wanted by San Jose PD located; occupants released but vehicle impounded.
  • Robbery Pursuit (March 22): Suspects assaulted a victim breaking into a truck; vehicle fled at 120 MPH and was later located in Oakland.
  • ShotSpotter/Firearms (March 24): System proved a suspect vehicle was near a shooting scene; two suspects arrested with illegal firearms.
  • Stolen Vehicle Pursuit (March 25): Driver of a stolen vehicle fled on foot after a pursuit; suspect was apprehended.
  • Seizure Warrant (March 29): Vehicle identified after fleeing a stop; seizure warrant led to its recovery in Mountain View and an owner confession.
  • Stolen Motorcycle (March 31): Occupied stolen motorcycle located; suspect taken into custody.

The data from these audit reports highlights a clear trend: Flock cameras are a vital force multiplier for the East Palo Alto Police Department. By providing real-time alerts and critical leads, this technology has directly resulted in the recovery of stolen property, the safe return of at-risk missing persons, and the apprehension of suspects in violent crimes that might otherwise have gone unsolved. As the City Council prepares to discuss the future of this program on April 7, the record shows that these tools are not just about capturing data—they are about delivering faster justice and building a more secure environment for every resident of East Palo Alto.