Lawmakers receiving a demonstration of the ALPR system earlier this year.
Credit: State Of PA
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For the second time in a month, Newtown Township police have recovered a stolen vehicle using a patrol car-mounted automatic license plate reader (ALPR.)
On Saturday, May 21 around 12:30 a.m., a patrol officer traveling on the Newtown Bypass was alerted by his ALPR that a passing vehicle had a plate that was reported stolen.
The officer began trailing the stolen vehicle on the Bypass and confirmed with the Bucks County radio room that the vehicle was stolen.
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The vehicle pulled over and the officer ordered the driver to exit the vehicle, police said.
The driver was identified as Matthew Lafferty, 26, of Mt. Holly, New Jersey, and the passenger was identified as 35-year-old Joseph Cerrone of Sicklersille, New Jersey.
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The two men were both charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property along with possession of marijuana. Both men were arraigned and sent to the Bucks County prison on 10 percent of $50,000 bail which was later reduced to 10 percent of $20,000 bail.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.