Antioch police latest to install automated license plate readers

In an effort to combat what authorities called a surge in crime across the suburbs, the Antioch Police Department has become the latest law enforcement agency to install automated license plate recognition cameras in town.

The department has signed a five-year contract with Flock Safety, which has worked with law enforcement agencies, schools, businesses and property owners nationwide as well as within Lake County to install license plate cameras and other security technology.

Five license plate cameras have been installed in the village and Antioch police officials said they hope to have them operational in the next few weeks. Between installation costs and camera service for five years, the contract will cost the department $66,250.

Antioch police said installation of the cameras also was prompted by crimes committed in town by nonresidents using stolen vehicles.

According to the department, the cameras will capture license plate information from passing vehicles and immediately compare it with information from a wider network of law enforcement databases. Officers then can quickly be alerted to a potential hit, which authorities said will enable the department to respond to crime more quickly and effectively.

While officials touted the benefits of the cameras for crime response, they acknowledged privacy concerns from residents in other communities that use Flock cameras.

Officials said information collected by the cameras would be used only for law enforcement purposes, and they would work with the community to address camera-related concerns.

Several Lake County municipalities, including Vernon Hills, Buffalo Grove and Lake Forest, already have implemented Flock cameras, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced a contract with the company in March.