Pacific Ridge HOA: From Four Break-Ins a Year to Zero with Flock Safety

How One Southern California Community Used Flock Safety Cameras to Stop Break-Ins, Deter Crime, and Build Trust with Local Law Enforcement

The Challenge: The Neighborhood Was Being Terroized By Break-Ins

Despite its reputation as a safe, coastal community, the neighborhood of Pacific Ridge was not immune to organized criminal activity.

“We were having a lot of break-ins. Our whole community was being hit a lot. It was an ongoing issue with neighbors who were getting their houses broken into. We were being targeted by a new gang that was terrorizing the area.”
- Omar Herrera, Head of Safety Committee at Pacific Ridge HOA

Over a year, the neighborhood experienced multiple break-ins attributed to organized gangs and lacked a sense of safety due to high foot traffic within the surrounding area. The community was severely impacted from crime and were desperate for a solution.

“We were also facing a lot of stolen vehicles going into our neighborhoods. We share a border with a popular trail, which made us particularly vulnerable.”
- Omar Herrera, Head of Safety Committee at Pacific Ridge HOA

The Turning Point: Law Enforcement Recommends Flock Safety

During a town hall meeting, residents were complaining about the ongoing break-ins when a local law enforcement officer recommended Flock Safety. He even offered to demonstrate how it works by taking the residents to a neighboring community where Flock was already in use. 

The Pacific Ridge community liked what they saw and chose to move forward with implementing Flock Safety within their neighborhood.

“A neighboring community had a break-in about a month ago, and law enforcement was able to apprehend all four guys - all because of Flock. This incident, in particular, turned me into a Flock believer.”
- Omar Herrera, Head of Safety Committee at Pacific Ridge HOA

The Solution: A Community-Wide Safety Strategy

“The year before we installed Flock, we had about 4 break-ins. This year, we’re on track to have no break-ins. Since implementing these Flock cameras, it’s stopped a lot of criminals from coming into our neighborhoods.”.
- Omar Herrera, Head of Safety Committee at Pacific Ridge HOA

Per recommendation from local law enforcement, the Pacific Ridge community moved forward with implementing Flock Safety. They used Flock’s solutions to deploy a multi-layered, intelligence-driven security strategy to proactively deter crime and strengthen their relationship with law enforcement. 

Take a look at the details of how the Pacific Ridge HOA was able to achieve this strategy:

Strategic Deployment

• Five Flock Safety Cameras were installed at key entry/ exit points and internal travel paths.
• Cameras were carefully positioned to monitor high-traffic cut-throughs, including trail and park access points that bad actors had previously exploited.

Law Enforcement Integration

• Flock’s real-time alerts were fully integrated with the local police departments, providing instant visibility into flagged vehicles and suspects.
• Officers were able to use Flock data to build and close cases, the Pacific Ridge HOA referred to the Flock system as a “police multiplier.”

Resident-Led Implementation

• Community buy-in was achieved through town hall meetings, onsite Flock demonstrations, and collaboration with local law enforcement.‍
• Pacific Ridge became a trailblazer in Newport Coast, inspiring neighboring HOAs to explore Flock adoption.

The Results: From Target to a Community Fortress

The Pacific Ridge community witnessed dramatic security improvements within months of installing Flock cameras, and those results have only grown stronger.

Crime Rates Plummeted

• Zero break-ins were reported in the 12 months following installation, down from 4 break-ins annually before Flock was brought on

Vehicle Threats Neutralized

• Stolen vehicles previously spotted entering the area have disappeared completely, thanks to deterrence and tracking
• Criminal casing was stopped as the presence of Flock cameras discouraged scouting via public park trails

Stronger Police Partnerships

• Police now use Flock footage to build cases whenever it’s needed, creating faster resolutions and stronger community ties
• Flock helps local law enforcement extend their reach, acting as 24/7 eyes on the ground in an area previously difficult to patrol

Community Peace of Mind

• Residents reported increased feelings of safety and a visible drop in suspicious activity
• Omar describes Flock as a “proven, proactive deterrent” that sends a clear message to possible offenders: “This isn’t the community you want to mess with”

The Pacific Ridge Community has been made safer, thanks to Flock Safety's cameras serving their community.