As Altadena Residents Encounter Significant Crime Increase, Authorities Implement AI Cameras To Deter Thieves

The aftermath of the Eaton wildfires that have plagued Altadena residents for months is slowly making way for rebuilding, restructuring and renewal efforts — but just as a sense of normalcy is tentatively returning, the staggering increase in crime has residents looking for a solution.

Last month, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department shared that since the Eaton fire, looting and crime has surged by 250% due to looting, robberies and other forms of theft. Now, the law enforcement agency has a high-tech solution that it hopes will give the community a sense of ease.

Flock Safety security cameras use artificial intelligence to capture and process evidentiary information, such as license plates and the make/model of vehicles, to send real-time alerts to authorities, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Captain Ethan Marquez of the Altadena Sheriff’s Station explained the intention behind the use of AI to curb the community’s crime. 

“Security cameras are one of the most effective tools we have to reduce property crimes and support successful prosecutions,” Marquez said. “Our goal is to protect the community, and these systems allow us to respond faster and with better information when crimes occur.”

By deploying the AI cameras, local law enforcement hopes to not only increase visibility in the area but also provide authorities with additional tools to capture and investigate perpetrators and criminals in the area, per the sheriff’s department. 

However, the use of high technology is just the start of initiatives to bring down crime that has residents on edge, as deputies are said to also be conducting high-visibility patrols in Altadena and crime suppression operations have also been implemented with undercover deputies.

While local law enforcement appears to be active in curbing the crime, there have been many residents who say that what they’re doing is not enough, given the troubling amount of crime ripping through the Altadena neighborhood.

Only time will tell if this latest move by local authorities will indeed put a dent in the uptick in crime, but given the amount of turmoil that Altadena residents have already endured, let’s hope that this hurdle has a positive and efficient outcome.

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