A license plate reader error leads to a false accusation of theft

An officer from the Columbine Valley Police Department arrived at her home and charged her Theft of a package valued at $25 From a balcony in nearby Bow Mar, Colorado.

The officer said surveillance technology pointed directly at her vehicle, a forest green Rivian R1T electric pickup truck. But Krisana insists she never stole anything.

What followed became a veritable lesson in modern surveillance. Doorbell cameras, license plate readers and phone location data suddenly became evidence in a case that had to fight itself.

A California balcony pirate was caught stealing security cameras installed to catch him

Herd cameras are used in cities across the country as license plate readers. A Colorado woman was charged with porch theft after police relied on surveillance technology, including Fluke cameras, that improperly linked her car to the scene. (Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty Images)

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The moment the accusation begins

Krisanna recently joined me on my podcast Beyond Connected to walk through the moment when it all began. She remembers the day clearly. “So I lay down because I had a headache, and my husband came over and said, ‘There’s a police officer here for you.’

The officer told her a package had been stolen from a home about 1.3 miles away in Bow Mar, Colorado. The officer who confronted her was Sgt. Jimmy Milliman of the Columbine Valley Police Department, which provides police services to both Columbine Valley and Bow Mar.

He thought she was responsible. The accusation was based on the surveillance tools used in the area. According to the officer, it was captured by Fluke license plate reader cameras Rivian green forest Driving through Bow Mar between 11:52am and 12:09pm on the day of the robbery.

Bodycam footage showed the officer describing the city’s surveillance network. “You can’t get a breath of fresh air in or out of this place without us knowing.”

Krisana said she tried to show the officer proof that she had nothing to do with the robbery. But she says he won’t review it. “And basically, he kept starting it. I was lying to him. And I never lied to him once.”

Instead, the officer issued a summons ordering her to appear in court in Jefferson County, Colorado.

The porch camera video that sparked the issue

Krisanna later found the video that sparked the accusation. Neighbors posted porch camera footage on the community app Nextdoor as they tried to identify the thief. At first, she could understand why the police thought the suspect looked like her. “When I watched the video from afar, I was like, ‘Wow, I think this type looks like me.’

But the closer I examined the footage, the more differences I noticed. “She was much younger, and she had a shaved bodice under her head.” The suspect fled the house and disappeared from the camera.

More importantly, the person in the video fled on foot and did not get into any vehicle, which contradicts the police theory regarding Elser’s truck. However, the investigation continued.

Colorado woman chases down ‘porch pirates’ and shames her on video

Krisanna Elser’s situation highlights how monitoring tools can generate leads but still require human verification to avoid errors. (Antranik Tavityan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

What a Fluke camera actually is

One of the techniques used in the investigation was a flock camera. Flock cameras are automated license plate reading systems produced by Flock Safety. Cities and neighborhoods across the United States are installing them at intersections and neighborhood entrances.

They automatically capture:

• License plate numbers
• Approximate vehicle color and type
• Date, time and location

Police departments can search the camera network to see when a car passes certain locations. In Beau Mar and Columbine Valley, Colorado, Columbine Valley Police are using cameras to help identify vehicles associated with investigations.

The systems are designed to help solve crimes such as stolen vehicles, hijackings and hit-and-runs. But they generate leads of inquiry, not evidence.

Krisana’s case illustrates what can happen when technology is treated as an outcome rather than a starting point.

The overlooked camera that could have exonerated her

Krisanna started doing something she never expected. She began investigating the accusation herself. While reviewing the evidence, I discovered something very important. Her truck was parked directly in front of another Fluke surveillance camera controlled by the town of Bou Mar the entire time police claimed she committed the robbery.

“In fact, my truck was parked in front of a Fluke camera in my neighbor’s driveway the whole time.” If investigators had reviewed that camera first, the case might have been over immediately.

The hidden phone feature that helped prove her innocence

Krisanna also discovered another piece of evidence hiding in her phone. It was a feature called Google Site Timeline.

preparation Tracks where your phone travels If location history is enabled. “Anywhere your phone is, if you turn on your timeline, it will track you,” Krisana said. In her case, it helped pinpoint exactly where she was that day.

She later discovered that the data showed she had visited a tailor just outside Bow Mar for a noon appointment located more than a quarter mile from the site of the robbery.

A Columbine Valley police officer questions Krisanna Elser on her front porch near Beau Mar, Colorado. Police later dropped the case after reviewing new evidence showing Elser’s car was parked during the alleged crime. (Columbine Valley Police Department)

How Krisanna constructed the timeline that exonerated her

Krisanna gathered multiple sources of evidence to show where she actually was.

Among its evidence:

• Google timeline data
• Flock camera photos
• Pictures of other stops she made that day
• Video from her car’s on-board cameras and GPS.

She built a timeline and sent the evidence to the police. Columbine Valley Police Chief Brett Cottrell eventually reviewed the information and responded via email. Krisanna read the letter she received.

“Hi Anna. After reviewing the evidence you provided. (Okay by the way), we have canceled the subpoena that was issued. We have checked again with the Jefferson County Courts, and the case has not yet been entered into the system; thus, there is no record in the file. Thank you for getting back to us with the evidence you said you would be able to provide. Sincerely, Brett.”

About two weeks later, the summons was canceled, and the case was dropped. The actual porch theft was never solved, Krisana said. The officer involved later received a formal reprimand and was ordered to complete additional training, according to internal police documents.

We reached out to the Columbine Valley Police Department for comment, but did not receive a response before the stated deadline.

How can someone get Flock camera footage

Many people assume they don’t have access to surveillance footage used by police. In some cases and jurisdictions, they can. For example, in Colorado, residents can request certain government records under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA), the state public records law similar to the federal Freedom of Information Act.

Krisana said her husband suggested requesting the footage through public records laws. “If the city is using any surveillance on you at all, you can issue a Freedom of Information Act.” While the FOIA technically applies to federal agencies, people often use the term to describe public records requests more broadly.

Steps to request herd camera footage

• Identify the police department that operates the cameras
• Submit a public records or Freedom of Information Act request
• Include the date, time and location you need
• Request relevant body camera or license plate reader records if necessary

Access rules vary by state and department. However, footage may be available when the cameras are owned by a city or town.

Technology still needs human judgment

Krisanna is unbelievable Monitoring tools It must disappear. But she believes they need clear guardrails. “It is a useful tool, but it is not a substitute for police work as was the case in this case,” she said.

Technology can help solve crimes and protect communities. However, when investigators rely on it without checking the facts, errors can occur.

DOORBELL-CAM partners with 405 police agencies across the US to share footage and fight crime

License plate reader data and doorbell footage led police to charge the wrong suspect before new evidence exonerated them. (Chip Somodevila/Getty Images)

How to turn Google Timeline on or off

Krisana used Google’s location timeline as part of evidence that helped prove her whereabouts on the day of the alleged robbery. Many people are not aware that this feature exists, but you can check it at any time through Google Maps.

Steps to check Google timeline

• Open Google Maps program
• Click on your Profile icon At the top right
• He chooses Your schedule
• Click on Three-point list or more
• handle Site and privacy settings
• role Timeline/location history on or on

If enabled, Google Maps may store a history of where your phone has been. Some people use it to remember trips or travel routes. Others prefer to turn it off for privacy. Either way, data can become important if you need to prove where you were at a particular time.

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Key takeaways for Kurt

Most people assume that surveillance protects them. Doorbell cameras catch porch pirates. License plate readers track stolen cars Phone location data helps people track trips. But Krisana’s experience reveals another side of the technology. Data can suggest conclusions before investigators verify them. When this happens, the accused person may have to gather their own evidence. Her takeaway is simple. “If they have proof of you, you should have proof of yourself.” For more on Krisanna’s story and the full conversation, you can listen to the full episode or watch it on the Beyond Connected podcast on getbeyondconnected.com.

Let me leave you with this question. If technology pointed the finger at you tomorrow, would you have the data needed to prove where you really were? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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