Automated license plate readers lead San Jose police to residential burglary suspect

San Jose police use automated license plate readers to track down a suspect involved in a residential burglary and recover a stolen firearm.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 3:47 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Hoodline

Investigation and Technology Integration

The San Jose Police Department successfully concluded a burglary investigation last week by leveraging Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. Detectives originally tied a specific vehicle to a residential burglary where a handgun was reported stolen. Several days later, the same suspect allegedly returned to the residence for a second attempted entry but fled before law enforcement arrived. ALPR cameras captured the vehicle during this second incident, providing investigators with the critical data needed to identify the car and the associated suspect.

Surveillance and Pursuit

Following the identification of the vehicle, officers located the car in the neighboring city of Santa Clara. While the vehicle was initially found unoccupied, police monitored the situation to avoid a high risk pursuit in a populated area. When officers eventually attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled at a high rate of speed and collided with a bystander’s vehicle. Despite the collision, the suspect was successfully apprehended in Los Gatos with the assistance of the department's Metro Unit.

Evidence Recovery and Charges

At the time of the arrest, officers conducted a search and recovered the handgun that had been reported stolen during the initial residential burglary. The suspect was transported to the Santa Clara County Main Jail and booked on multiple charges, including burglary and firearm related offenses. The recovery of the weapon serves as a key piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation led by the Burglary Unit.