FAQ About Cold Cases and Breakthroughs

Advancements in surveillance technology have the potential to contribute to the resolution of cold cases in several ways:

• Enhanced Video and Image Analysis: Improved surveillance cameras, higher resolution images, and advancements in video analysis techniques enable investigators to extract more detailed information from footage captured at the time of the crime. This can aid in identifying suspects, vehicles, or other key details that may have been previously unclear or undetectable.
• Facial Recognition Technology: Facial recognition technology has advanced significantly in recent years, allowing for more accurate identification of individuals captured in surveillance footage. By comparing facial features against databases of known individuals, investigators can potentially match a suspect's face to a database record or generate new leads by identifying persons of interest.
• Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR): ALPR technology uses optical character recognition and pattern recognition algorithms to read and interpret license plates captured by surveillance cameras. This technology can help investigators track vehicle movements, identify potential suspects or witnesses, and link vehicles to specific locations or timeframes relevant to the cold case.
• Geolocation and GPS Tracking: Advances in geolocation and GPS tracking technologies can assist in reconstructing the movements of suspects or vehicles connected to the cold case. Historical geolocation data from cellular networks or GPS tracking devices can provide valuable information about the locations visited by individuals during the relevant timeframe, potentially linking them to the crime scene or establishing patterns of behavior.
• Social Media and Online Surveillance: Cold case investigations increasingly involve the analysis of social media and online platforms. Advanced surveillance technology can assist in monitoring and analyzing social media activity, identifying connections between suspects, victims, or witnesses, and uncovering potential evidence or leads that were not available during the initial investigation.
• Data Integration and Analysis: Surveillance technology generates vast amounts of data, including video footage, images, and metadata. Advancements in data integration and analysis tools allow investigators to combine and analyze this data from multiple sources, such as surveillance cameras, cell phone records, or other digital sources, providing a more comprehensive picture of the case and potentially uncovering previously unknown links or connections.