Pasadena’s Automatic License Plate Reader Finds Stolen Car in Less Than 10 Hours

Pasadena police officers in a patrol car equipped with automatic license plate reading equipment spotted a freshly-stolen car and arrested the alleged thief today.

Lt. Kelly Evans said the car was reported stolen Sunday at 3:10 p.m. from a parking garage in the 300 block of Cordova Street.

Shortly after midnight this morning, Evans said patrol officers got a hit on the license plate of a parked car they were near through the Department’s ALPR program. The officers waited briefly until they observed a woman get into the stolen car and drive off.

The officers conducted a traffic stop and took the driver into custody for possession of a stolen vehicle.

Arrested was Juanita Simpson, 53, of Pasadena, Evans said.

 

Related: See our 2013 detailed report on Pasadena’s Automated License Plate Reader System