LOS ANGLES (KNX) — A neighborhood group is working to combat crime in the area by using cameras to help catch crooks.
The group, called Melrose Action, raised $30,000 to install license plate readers. Peter Nichols, said the rate of crime in the area has been concerning for a long time and something had to be done.
“Crime in the Melrose district of LA has just been unbelievably sideways for an extended period of time, including things like homicides, follow home robberies, armed robberies at businesses of customers, robberies on the street with people wearing high dollar jewelry…,” Nichols told KNX.
The camera is expected to be installed on private property between La Cienega and La Brea Avenue along Melrose Avenue.
As for whether there could be privacy concerns among neighbors, Nichols said he doesn’t think there will be any.
“These cameras really only focus on the rear of the car and don’t have any kind of facial recognition technology that we’re aware of,” he said.
Crime in Melrose has been growing from robberies in stores to outside dining areas. In November, LAPD announced it was creating a task to investigate follow-home robberies.
Related
