Flock Stories, Your Voice: A Pinecrest Family Finds Safety After the Terror of a Home Invasion

A Pinecrest, FL, father recounts the fear of a home invasion with his family sleeping inside and how Pinecrest Police used Flock technology to quickly identify and arrest the suspects, helping restore their sense of safety.

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“Words can't describe what you feel as a parent when you see your children have a level of fear that they've never had before,” said Pinecrest resident Justin Firestone. “At five AM, I heard the alarm going off. I looked at my phone and saw it was a front-door intrusion. Two subjects were in the house.”

“[Pinecrest, Florida] is sort of a village within a big city. It's really kid-friendly. We've got a farmer's market every Sunday.”

“It's relatively quiet in this area,” said Pinecrest Police Department Chief Jason Cohen. “There's a sense of community here in Pinecrest that you don't see in other areas of the county. But beginning in January, this region saw a big uptick in vehicle burglaries and car thefts.”

“I could see them on the cameras wearing masks, and they're in our house,” said Firestone. “You know, your heart drops. I immediately called nine one one.”

“We began to search our flock system and immediately identified the vehicle,” said Chief Cohen. “With that Flock hit, we called on the Sheriff's Office helicopter, followed the vehicle for twenty-two miles, and ultimately led to a takedown of three subjects.”

“When I found out the suspects had been arrested, I was incredibly grateful,” said Firestone. “Flock really was the game changer.”

“If you're a police leader now in 2026 and you don't have this technology, you are really missing out on a great opportunity to protect your community,” said Chief Cohen. 

“We went to bed that night knowing that the criminals were off the street,” said Firestone. “I'm living proof that my family is safer because of this technology.”