El Centro Police officers using a new computer program recovered three stolen vehicles and made three arrests in three days.

Officers were tipped off to stolen cars by ALPR , Automated License Plate Recognition software. According to Commander Robert Sawyer , the first incident occurred on Tuesday , May 29 at approximately 9:15 p.m.. An officer was issuing a citation in the area of 14th and Main Streets when ALPR software on his in-car computer notified him that a stolen vehicle had just passed by. The officer confirmed the license plate matched that of a car reported stolen in El Centro on May 19th and then located the car in the area of 12th and Adams. After stopping , the driver and a passenger fled on foot but officers were able to track down the driver as he attempted to hide in a dumpster. Officers arrested the 16-year old who was booked at juvenile hall on charges of felony possession of stolen property. The passenger was not located.

Less than five hours later , at 1:43 a.m. on Wednesday , May 30 , an ECPD officer was travelling northbound in the 200 block of south 5th Street when ALPR alerted to a GMC Safari that had been reported stolen February 27, 2018 in El Centro. A high-risk traffic stop was conducted and officers arrested both occupants , Guillermo Marin , 50 , of El Centro and 42-year old Nancy Solórzano , also from El Centro. Both were booked in to Imperial County Jail for felony possession of a stolen vehicle..

On Thursday , May 31 , ECPD dispatch was notified of a stolen vehicle in the 500 block of South Imperial Avenue after a Chevy Trailblazer passed by an ALPR camera in the area. Officers located the SUV in the 1500 block of Pico Avenue and detained two Arizona residents. Both were released pending further investigation.

The Automated License Plate Recognition program is funded by a grant.