Help Stop Crime in the Melrose-Fairfax District

Supporters,

Our first round of funding and rollout of Melrose Action’s ALPR (Automated License Plate Recognition) camera network has been incredibly successful. From L.A.P.D. Chief Michel Moore to our commanders at our L.A.P.D. Wilshire Station - they cannot thank the community enough for providing one more tool to help keep our community and the city of Los Angeles safer. Countless law enforcement officials have told us that we, collectively, made the right choice in furthering efforts to fight rising crime. That valuable feedback led us to begin fundraising for Phase 2.

We strongly believe it’s time to further expand the program inorder to cover a greater area of our community. We are asking for your support to fund additional ALPR cameras in the area Melrose Action covers. Statistically, violent crime is down by double digits where cameras are currently deployed. Chief Moore publicly acknowledged that his department and officers now rely on these cameras as an added asset to help solve crimes.

We have inspired countless other communities to also invest in this technology and they are following our groundbreaking, innovative lead. Our community partnership with the LAPD is the key to reducing crime. Our goal for Phase 2 is $45,000 to continue this unprecedented community effort.

Phase 1 License Plate Readers are strategically placed around the hot spots in the community to help lead to the apprehension of wanted suspects. If a crime is committed, law enforcement is able to review this technology to help locate a possible offender. These devices are 100% autonomous, they are solar powered and operate 24/7. Statistics have shown that when used in partnership with law officers, this technology is highly effective in helping solve (and perhaps prevent) crime.

The ALPR cameras are expensive and the City of Los Angeles is limited in resources. It is up to us — both residents and business owners, to share responsibility and take “action” to keep our community and city safer. The more money we raise, the more locations we can afford. We ask local businesses as well as residents to contribute. These cameras can help catch a wanted suspect from as far away as New York City.

Additionally, if you are interested in hosting a camera on your property please reach out to us.

FAQ's FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS. ANSWERED.

Q: How much do these ALPRs cost? 

A: Each LPR is 2500.00/year. This fee covers the initial installation, data management and maintenance of the devices. 

Q: Why are these ALPRs so expensive? I see outdoor cameras being sold on Amazon for around $200. Why don’t we just get a lot of those? 

A: License Plate Readers are a lot different from regular consumer cameras. ALPRs are specifically optimized to read license plates and only license plates. ALPRs have an intentionally short shutter speed allowing the devices to wake up and start recording data in a fraction of a second to capture multiple frames of a car traveling up to 75 MPH. A doorbell camera is optimized for limited distance consumer-level home security. The ALPR camera settings are professionally optimized for low light, and the shutter speed is too slow to capture non-reflective objects moving slowly (i.e. pedestrians). ALPRs are designed to capture reflective objects moving quickly (i.e. cars & license plates). 

The cost of these devices also includes continual maintenance as they will run autonomously 24/7. In addition, the cost covers all the data management. In case of a serious crime there is no scramble to download footage from individual cameras, worry about weak wi-fi signals, whether someones cameras are even plugged in and operational, or unimaginable delays in immediately locating available homeowners. The data is stored on a central server and when a crime is committed, the data can be quickly accessed directly by the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies. The media is stored for 30 days and then deleted. Melrose Action or it’s representatives do not access stored data unless as a very last resort or check on operational issues. We many assist in cases where time is critical to helping apprehend serious criminals like in instances of homicides, shootings, felony robberies, assaults, hate crimes, and burglaries. This purpose of this network is meant for being a potential source of actionable information after a crime has been committed. 

Q: What is so great about license plate information? Why not choose cameras designed to best capture people’s faces? 

A: When a crime is captured on a RING doorbell video or home security camera it takes a fair amount of time and manpower to gather that footage and get it to the LAPD if at all. Additionally, even if home security cameras show a clear picture of the criminal’s face, it gives the LAPD no immediate actionable leads on where to find that person. Since “doorbell camera’s” are already so pervasive, law enforcement agencies receives millions of “faces” shared with them daily. One way the LAPD for example might locate a criminal is by running the license plate number of a vehicle(s) connected to the crime that might be from a lead of a potential witness.

Plus, new ALPR devices allow law enforcement to filter their search based on the vehicle’s specific characteristics, including body type, make, color, and more. Vehicles contain more forensic information than realized. This is key in producing a quicker investigative lead for law enforcement when a suspect vehicle has no visible plates or fake ones. 

Q: Wouldn’t it be cheaper and more effective to just hire more police officers? 

A: No. There's no 'immediate way" to just hire more police. Also important ALPR’s actually might mitigate the need for unnecessary interactions between the public and law enforcement by providing more actionable leads in the direction that counts to catch a dangerous suspect. Right now, ALPRs are by far the best, most cost-effective solution. These devices run 24/7 and can blanket an area, giving detectives actionable data to work with. 

Q: How are these ALPRs getting power?

A: They are 100% Solar! 

Q: Where will the ALPRs be placed? 

A: Law enforcement will work in partnership with Melrose Action to strategically place the devices in locations that will yield the best results based on the most current, most concerning crime trends available and nothing else. The LAPD has first-hand knowledge of our neighborhood, local crime statistics and traffic patterns that criminals routinely use to commit their crimes. This help’s plan where the ALPRs will be be placed. The more devices we can afford, the more effective the system will be. Hence, the funding raising. 

Q: Who will be looking at this footage? 

A: The data will be accessible to the LAPD, not to private citizens. When a crime is committed, the LAPD will be able to quickly retrieve the data. Melrose Action is not involved in law enforcement strategies in any capacity. Melrose Action is a public safety advocacy organization whose only goal is safer streets for all. If you have been a victim of a crime, Melrose Action will NOT release any data to private parties. Your MUST file a police report and notify our local law enforcement agency such as the Los Angeles Police Department or the Los Angeles County Sheriff depending on where you live. We DO NOT share data except to law enforcement officials.

Q: Should I be worried that these ALPRs are a threat to my privacy? 

A: Every city in America has a huge number of security cameras in public spaces recording 24/7 as well as in offices, on streets and surrounding private homes. If you don’t want a camera recording your image, the only sure way to achieve that is to stay inside your home. In addition, these ALPRs do not contain facial recognition software and the media is deleted after 30 days. License plate readers scan your plates everywhere from the local West Hollywood Target Store to entering The Grove, Westfield Century City just to name a few.

Q: Are you worried that people would steal or damage the ALPRs and we will have to pay $2500 each time to replace them? 

A: No. The ALPRs are mounted on tall posts so they are not be easy to vandalize. Replacement cameras are covered by the upfront cost. If a device is vandalized more than once, the LAPD, and Melrose Action will reevaluate the placement. We have not experienced any vandalism to any of the cameras currently in our community. 

Q: Can I have an ALPR placed in front of my business or home? 

A: Yes and no. Security experts advise us that we are best protected if the ALPRs are mounted in locations carefully chosen by law enforcement based on crime statistics and experience. Each device can be moved to a new location if crime trends change. If you would like to sponsor an ALPR in a specific location, please contact Melrose Action so that we can determine if your location could be suitable to make meaningful change in crime trends. 

Q: Why not just hire a private security company that will dedicate a car and a armed guard for maybe 8 hours a day / 7 days a week for about $50,000 a year AND require neighbors to sign up to lengthy contracts binding contracts with no real guarantee of service and reliability?

A. The cost, the inefficiency and the generally horrible track record many of these companies have. Bottom line, one car with one guard cannot be in two places at one time.  The frequency of crime here prove that to be very true.  Our cameras are sentinels that are "on guard" autonomously 24/7 and do not move or "leave their posts". Another solid reason why this system makes the most sense for our situation. And, remember law enforcement has almost immediate access to get started on tracking down dangerous suspects without any intermediaries. To be clear Melrose Action nor is our ALPR initiative a substitute for the police ever. We offer a very reliable operational tool that is stationed full time on some of our streets. The cost of dozens of cameras in our system vs the cost of ONE PATROL CAR is unequaled and unparalleled.

Q: If these ALPRs are so great, why doesn’t the City of LA pay for them? 

A: This is newer technology that cities are just beginning to implement on a broader scale. The reality is that if we wait for the city to maybe allocate funds and approve new tech, our neighborhood will only continue to deteriorate. So, Melrose Action, as a Non-Profit 501c3 is taking the initiative to bring the community together through equity to continue this effort we began in 2021 with our first Go Fund Me. We feel like most of you that our neighborhood is in real trouble and waiting for the city itself to fix the problem is not a viable, more imminent reactive solution. 

Q: Are the people at Melrose Action making a profit of any kind on this whole campaign? 

A: No "special interests here".  Not one dime or dollar. We are all 100% volunteers dedicated to making our community safer for everyone. That includes the entire city of Los Angeles.

Q: How many of these devices will be placed in our neighborhood and when? 

A: We had success in our first round of funding and have a limited number of cameras already installed in the hardest hit areas that involved the most serious of crimes including murder, countless armed robberies, assaults, and shootings. It’s for those reasons we need expand the area more to continue to see a downward trend of crime and to maintain the momentum. This is a crowd-funded endeavor. Equity is the healthiest path to solution oriented goals. The faster we reach our goal, the sooner we can implement our next phase to stop crime over a broader area we cover. To see our boundaries, please visit www.melroseaction.org/map 

Q: I think this is a great idea. How can I help? 

A: Please donate here and ask your friends and neighbors to do the same. These are working! Spread the word! If you don’t want to use GO FUND ME, we also accept donations via Paypal, Venmo, Apple Pay, and personal check. Your donations are tax deductible as Melrose Action is a registered 501C3 non-profit with both the state of California and the IRS. Look up our status, as you should any time you donate to a charity of your choice. We hope Melrose Action is one of your choices. 

You also can donate from your purchases you make on Amazon. Melrose Action is a listed charity in the Amazon Smile program, for more info find that here. Amazon Smile

You can also help our effort adding your own equipment to your home or business and just purchase it through our Amazon Affiliate store (melroseaction store) We will get a tiny commission if you use this method to buy the safety items you need and we will re-invest those funds into more protective measures like the ALPR initiative.

If you have any questions, please contact us directly through our website Melrose Action. melroseaction

Thank you for helping keep our community and city safer for everyone.

Have any further questions?  Feel free to email us at contact-us@melroseaction.com