Minneapolis police used automatic license plate reader technology to quickly recover a carjacked vehicle and arrest a suspect, according to an update shared by the Minneapolis Police Department’s social media post. The car was taken by force near 21st Avenue South and 29th Street East, but officers were alerted to its location when the vehicle’s plate was scanned by a camera-equipped patrol unit. These readers automatically check passing license plates against a database of stolen or criminally linked vehicles.
The system flagged the stolen car shortly after the carjacking occurred. Officers located it soon after and conducted a successful traffic stop, finding one of the suspects inside. Police noted in their post that “it’s a good day when we recover a stolen car—especially one taken from a community member by force.”
While the technology has strengthened patrol strategies and led to quicker recoveries like this one, its use continues to spark debate. Privacy advocates often raise concerns about the potential for misuse and broad surveillance of everyday citizens.
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