{"id":250641,"date":"2025-09-24T04:13:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T04:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/250641\/"},"modified":"2025-09-24T04:13:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T04:13:10","slug":"houston-midtown-bar-uses-ai-powered-camera-to-curb-vehicle-break-ins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/250641\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston Midtown bar uses AI-powered camera to curb vehicle break-ins"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\"><strong>HOUSTON<\/strong> \u2013 A popular Midtown hangout called Axelrad is using artificial intelligence to fight a growing problem: vehicle break-ins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">At Axelrad Beer Garden, known for its hammocks, live music and Wednesday jazz nights, owner Adam Brackman said crime in the parking lot pushed him to look for solutions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating to see people get their cars broken into. It\u2019s very violating, and I wanted to do whatever we could,\u201d said Brackman.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Brackman said he first encountered the technology when he walked into another Houston restaurant\u2019s parking lot and heard an automated voice warning customers to secure their belongings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cI was like, wow, that\u2019s amazing. What is that?\u201d Brackman said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">He contacted SentriForce, a Houston-based surveillance company, and had the system installed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The system uses AI-enabled cameras that detect when patrons walk away from their cars and enter the business.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">SentriForce has been installing security cameras for about 20 years, but executives say this AI technology has been around for about a year and a half.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Steven Chiara, Director of Business Development at Central Force, said the goal is twofold\u2014change criminal behavior and patron behavior.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThe AI lens knows when someone gets out of their car and triggers the audio reminder,\u201d Shira explained. \u201cWe\u2019ve found it\u2019s much more effective than just putting up signs.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 kDvXdO font_openSans articleList\">\n<li class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__StackBase-sc-1fnzlkn-7 ecGWWE iQviKm\"\/><\/ul>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The technology also features flashing lights and active video surveillance to deter thieves. SentriForce manages the footage on behalf of its clients, providing clips to businesses or law enforcement when needed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Brackman said the results were immediate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cThere was an organized group breaking into cars in a very systematic way,\u201d said Brackman. \u201cBy working with SentriForce and providing footage, Midtown was able to work with police to shut that ring down. Since then, there\u2019s been no break-ins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The Near Northwest Management District is also investing in the technology, installing AI-powered cameras across a 16-square-mile area stretching from Antoine to T.C. Jester.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Wayne Norden, the president of the district, said public safety has always been their priority.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cCrime was the barrier preventing growth,\u201d Norden said. \u201cSince we started using this technology, we\u2019ve seen a tremendous deterioration of crime.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The district even created a grant program that reimburses businesses for lighting upgrades and offers free cameras for three to six months.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">Walter Funes, director of public safety, said it\u2019s about prevention as much as enforcement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cOur purpose isn\u2019t to catch people in the act, it\u2019s to chase people away from the action,\u201d Funes said. \u201cIf everybody adds these cameras, it sends a uniform statement, crime isn\u2019t welcome here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">SentriForce leaders said the technology is still developing but has already proven effective against vehicle burglaries, illegal dumping, and even copper theft.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">The company also works directly with law enforcement, providing evidence used in investigations ranging from car break-ins to kidnappings and even homicides.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 bYFsJw cuqaEv article-text\">\u201cWe feel like we\u2019ve made a significant impact already,\u201d Chiara said. \u201cAs long as people leave laptop bags and backpacks in their cars, break-ins will happen. But if we can reduce the frequency, that\u2019s a larger impact for the city overall.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dist__Box-sc-1fnzlkn-0 dist__TextBase-sc-1fnzlkn-3 kNAFkD cuqaEv article-text\">If you\u2019re a business owner in the Near Northwest Management District and you\u2019re interested in learning more about the grant, you can click <a href=\"https:\/\/nnmd.org\/public-safety\/lights-camera-action-grant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/nnmd.org\/public-safety\/lights-camera-action-grant\/\">HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston &#8211; All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HOUSTON \u2013 A popular Midtown hangout called Axelrad is using artificial intelligence to fight a growing problem: vehicle&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":250642,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5130],"tags":[691,132756,4345,17833,39409,158,358,3187],"class_list":{"0":"post-250641","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-ai","9":"tag-ai-camera","10":"tag-houston","11":"tag-midtown","12":"tag-northwest","13":"tag-technology","14":"tag-texas","15":"tag-tx"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115257331087351167","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=250641"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/250641\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/250642"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=250641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=250641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=250641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}