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Sheriff officials credit Flock license-plate cameras as local property crime falls
Summary
Riverside County Sheriff's lieutenant told the Rancho Mirage City Council that property crime in the city declined through 2025, citing a drop in vehicle thefts from 105 in 2021 to 17 in 2025 and two recent cases where Flock license-plate cameras helped identify suspects and recover stolen property.
Lieutenant Christopher Turnis of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department told the Rancho Mirage City Council on April 16 that the department's patrol and specialized units, aided by Flock license-plate cameras, have contributed to steady year-over-year declines in property crime across the city.
Turnis said the department maintains 33 full-time deputies assigned to 12-hour patrol shifts and several specialized teams, including a robbery, burglary suppression team and a special enforcement team. He said the department's traffic bureau and problem-oriented policing officers also help reduce collisions and connect with businesses.
"As you can see, crime has steadily declined through 2025 across all categories," Turnis said, pointing to a drop in reported vehicle thefts from 105 in 2021 to 17 last year. He credited proactive policing and the city's investment in Flock cameras for helping detect and solve crimes more quickly.
Turnis described two cases the department says show Flock's impact. In one December case involving stolen Tesla charging units, investigators had only a vehicle description; Flock data, he said, matched the vehicle and led to a stop, arrest and recovery of property. In a February burglary of a construction ConX box, a partial plate entered into Flock led investigators to suspect vehicles at a nearby casino and to search warrants served outside the city that recovered stolen materials valued at roughly $7,000, Turnis said.
"Flock has become an essential tool in both public safety and community care," he said, adding that the system also helps in noncriminal situations such as locating vulnerable individuals who wander.
Investigator Josh Smith, leader of the robbery and burglary suppression team, said his unit focuses on violent and sophisticated crimes and that investigators frequently work undercover and with confidential informants. Smith said the team has seen a notable influx of suspects from Los Angeles County targeting high-end jewelry stores and casinos, particularly around large events like Coachella.
Council members thanked the sheriff's representatives for the update. The presentation did not include a council vote or policy decision; it was provided as an informational briefing and to take questions from the council and public.
