Boosting HOA Security with License Plate Reader Cameras

There are many HOA and neighborhood security solutions on the market, but few are designed to capture a key piece of evidence that can help law enforcement develop an actionable lead: a license plate. License plates are a key piece of evidence in all sorts of crimes, from stolen vehicles to hit-and-run cases, from burglaries to violent crimes.

Communities across the nation have turned to Flock’s license plate reader cameras to fill gaps in their neighborhood security strategies and support a proactive, evidence-led approach to safety. 

Flock’s unique Vehicle Fingerprint™ technology captures the vehicle’s make and model, color, and customizations. Flock cameras can be configured to alert law enforcement when a license plate matches an agency-approved hot list, helping officers identify vehicles connected to active investigations. 

HOAs in North Carolina Take Control

In Union County, North Carolina, several neighborhoods have installed Flock LPR systems. 

Cameras installed in the Meriweather neighborhood were used by the Union County Sheriff’s Office to investigate three stolen-vehicle cases that resulted in arrests over two years.

In addition, after Flock cameras were installed at the entrance to the Indian Hill neighborhood, police received an alert about a stolen vehicle, which became an actionable lead for law enforcement. In this case, Flock cameras provided objective evidence that became an actionable lead for law enforcement.

Many local homeowners’ associations give the Union County Sheriff’s Office access to their Flock cameras, which local reporting has associated with more cases solved and fewer property crimes in the community. Many residents believe this is a worthwhile investment, and adoption is spreading across the area. 

More than 50 neighborhoods throughout Mecklenburg County use Flock to strengthen their HOA security, along with multiple neighborhoods across Union County. 

Traditional HOA Security Options vs Flock Cameras

Traditional HOA security tools, such as neighborhood watch programs, doorbell cameras, and patrols, can help communities document activity. Flock cameras add a license-plate-focused evidence layer that helps HOAs and law enforcement connect vehicle details to specific incidents.

In 2020, after a series of break-ins, Lake Pointe enhanced its neighborhood watch and installed a Flock camera at every entrance to the community. Many Lake Pointe homeowners use doorbell cameras, providing valuable evidence.

“There have been break-ins where we’ve pulled data from the license plate readers and corroborated that against Ring [cameras] or, you know, home security video footage,” said Lake Pointe HOA president Michael Husband. “Then we feed that to the police for, you know, their prosecution.” 

As of September 2021, crime has decreased significantly in the neighborhood. Lake Pointe’s Flock camera evidence has been used in at least 20 cases.

No Neighborhood is Too Small 

Every neighborhood deserves to feel safe, and every neighborhood can play its part in preventing crime and supporting investigations. 

In McLean, Virginia, an HOA community of only 12 homes reassessed its security approach after a series of reported incidents. According to the local police, this neighborhood reported five burglaries in 2019, a trespassing incident in March 2020, attempts to enter a locked vehicle in June 2021, a theft from a motor vehicle in July 2021, and a burglary in August 2021.

To address these incidents, the HOA installed three Flock LPR cameras to augment its already extensive neighborhood security protocols. 

Since the installation in August 2021, they’ve reported zero incidents, which neighbors attribute at least in part to the cameras installed in their community.

Flock in Florida

Flock’s alerting capabilities can help community residents share relevant evidence with law enforcement while allowing trained public safety professionals to investigate incidents. 

In Lynn Haven, Florida, the city approved two Flock cameras to protect the Panama City Country Club, in addition to the other five Flock cameras located throughout the city. 

Unlike traditional cameras, which can require owners to spend hours combing through footage, Flock data is searchable. Lynn Haven Police Lieutenant Steve Enfinger said this feature helps his team act faster and more effectively. 

“We get 10 reports where their cars are burglarized the night before. We may have a Ring camera [footage] of a red pickup truck cruising through there. We can search the Flock camera system ‘red pickup truck,’ we can pull up tag numbers, or if a witness happens to get a tag number, we can search a tag number and get the image off Flock and see exactly what time they were in there.”

Cutting HOA Security Costs in Tulsa

After a string of property crimes, Frank Rhoades, a resident of the Forest Hills neighborhood, took stock of its existing security service and found it lacking. Then he found Flock.

“We had a drive-through security service working for us for several years,” said Frank Rhoades. “At one point, I added up how much we had spent on them because we had never apprehended anybody. It was $100,000. It was over an eight-year period, and I was like, you know what? There’s got to be a better way.”

Rhoades described the system as a “game-changer” for his neighborhood. He said the community had hired an off-duty Tulsa Police Department officer to run the plates when an incident occurs. 

The system has been useful in the Forest Hills neighborhood, and the local police department is considering deploying additional Flock cameras in areas with elevated property crime concerns.

Neighborhood Security Can Be More Affordable Than You Think

Flock’s LPR cameras can help strengthen homeowners' association security plans. They provide actionable evidence that helps police develop leads and investigate incidents more efficiently, while reducing the need for homeowners, HOA volunteers, and neighborhood watch groups to confront suspects directly.

Flock camera systems were designed to be budget-friendly and low-maintenance. Installation is free, and Flock handles all maintenance and upgrades. Flock cameras are solar-powered and wireless, running on their own independent network; communities face virtually no additional infrastructure costs. Their subtle design won’t compromise the neighborhood aesthetic.

For HOAs concerned about privacy, Flock provides controls that help communities manage access to their data. HOAs can choose whether to share access to their Flock system with local law enforcement, and customers control their own data-sharing settings. Flock data is deleted after 30 days, and HOAs can restrict who has access to that data. 

With Flock’s Safe List, the HOA can note which license plates belong to neighborhood residents. If enabled by the HOA, privacy settings can help manage how resident license plates are handled within the system. 

Flock HOA FAQ

How do Flock license plate reader cameras help HOA and neighborhood security?
‍Flock license plate reader cameras capture objective vehicle evidence, including license plates and vehicle details such as make, model, color, and distinguishing features. HOAs typically place cameras at neighborhood entrances and exits and other approved locations so that, when an incident involves a vehicle, the community can provide searchable evidence to authorized users or local law enforcement.

What information do Flock cameras capture?
‍Flock cameras capture license plates and use Vehicle Fingerprint™ technology to identify vehicle characteristics, such as make, model, color, and visible customizations. 

Can an HOA share Flock camera data with local law enforcement?
‍Yes. HOAs can choose whether to integrate their Flock system with local law enforcement and decide how information is shared. This can help officers receive actionable vehicle evidence or alerts tied to relevant law enforcement databases, while keeping access governed by the HOA’s permissions. Customers control their own data-sharing settings. 

How long is Flock data retained?
‍Flock data is deleted after 30 days, and HOAs can restrict who has access to that data. 

What privacy controls are available for HOA license plate reader cameras?
‍Flock data is deleted after 30 days, and HOAs can restrict who has access to the data. HOAs can also use Safe List features for resident vehicles, and residents may opt out of being recorded by Flock if they prefer.

What should an HOA consider before installing license plate reader cameras?
‍An HOA should evaluate camera placement at entrances and exits, resident privacy expectations, access permissions, law enforcement sharing preferences, and budget. Flock cameras are solar-powered and wireless, and Flock handles installation, maintenance, and upgrades, which can reduce the need for added neighborhood infrastructure.

Let’s Talk About HOA Security

Schedule a consultation today to learn more about how Flock can help your neighborhood work with law enforcement to strengthen security, support investigations, and give residents greater peace of mind.

Flock is a public safety platform that helps communities and law enforcement in 5000+ cities work together to improve public safety, support investigations, and protect privacy. We build devices that capture objective evidence and use technology to help deliver investigative leads to law enforcement. 

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Photo credit: 

Photo by Michael Tuszynski on Unsplash.

Photo by FilterGrade on Unsplash.