San Francisco's Car Crime Has Plunged. How Much Credit Does Flock Deserve?

Car thefts in San Francisco have decreased by nearly 59% for the first eight months of 2026 in comparison to the same period in 2022, according to NPR's Planet Money's analysis of police department data. Break-ins have fallen by more than 82%. Police officials attribute this reduction to the increased use of surveillance technology, particularly Flock Safety's AI-powered license plate camera system.

The decrease in crime, however, is not solely attributed to Flock; aggressive prosecution methods, increased patrols, and the use of bait cars have also played a role. In March 2024, San Francisco voters approved Proposition E, which facilitated the use of drones and high-tech surveillance cameras by the SFPD. Flock cameras and drones were implemented in strategic locations following this approval.

The SFPD claims that these tools have been instrumental in reducing crime, as they enable officers to identify specific vehicles with precision and assist in solving challenging cases, such as auto burglaries. One instance involved Flock cameras detecting a vehicle linked to a previous auto burglary, prompting officers to deploy a drone that recorded suspects in real-time as they stole from a parked SUV, ultimately leading to their arrest.

This method, according to the SFPD, allows for apprehending suspects without endangering innocent individuals through dangerous police chases. The high-tech surveillance also generates an evidence trail that can be utilized by the District Attorney's office to prosecute suspects. An ambitious study by University of South Carolina researchers found that deploying Flock cameras was associated with an 11% drop in car thefts in the first year, though this study has not been peer-reviewed and other factors may have contributed to the decline. Critics argue that these systems may encroach upon privacy and civil liberties.