Greece, N.Y. (WHAM) — Newly installed license plate recognition cameras have helped the Greece Police Department make multiple stolen vehicle apprehensions in recent days, according to Chief Michael Wood.
“I think New Year’s Day, and two or three during the Christmas week of just stolen vehicles, alerts on license plate readers that we had around town,” said Wood. “And we’ve made successful apprehension of those folks in recoveries of the vehicles for their owners.”
BACKGROUND: License plate recognition cameras going up in Greece | ‘Great idea’: Greece residents weigh in on license plate recognition cameras
Wood said stolen cars have been a serious crime trend across the region.
“We know that’s been going on,” he said. “Now, this year, I think we are seeing reductions, which is good, but it’s been a big issue. There’s no doubt about it.”
Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Dooley, in her weekly newsletter, reported 2,082 vehicle thefts in the city of Rochester in 2024. That total was nearly half of the record 3,932 in 2023 — but was still considerably higher than totals prior to 2022, which was the first year on record that broke 1,000.
So, will other jurisdictions join Greece in adding the cameras?
“I am certainly hopeful that the majority are,” Wood said. “I mean, I’d love to see them, personally, for public safety in this region.”
13WHAM reached out to some other law enforcement agencies in the region. While they said they don’t have LPR technology, they said they would like to or are in the process of installing them. They said it mainly depends on their local governments to vote on it. Wood said the funding is there from Albany to use via the New York State Law Enforcement Technology grant.
“I certainly encourage every municipality to their comfort level what they want to do,” Wood said. “But I think overall, for our region’s public safety, (they) should adopt this technology as soon as possible and invest in it.”