Last month, Nottinghamshire police used a drone equipped with a thermal imaging camera to locate and arrest a group of lorry thieves.
The three suspects were found hiding in thick undergrowth in South Normanton after abandoning an HGV at a retail park during the night. The lorry, suspected to be stolen, had failed to stop for police on the M1 before being left near the A38.
With the suspects initially out of sight, police deployed both a drone and a dog unit to assist in the search. The drone’s camera quickly detected three individuals lying flat in the dense vegetation.
Nottinghamshire Police reported that the three men, aged 25 and 20, were arrested on suspicion of several crimes, including vehicle theft and failure to stop.
Sergeant Vince Saunders highlighted the success of the operation, emphasizing the role of the force’s drone unit. He stated, “This is a prime example of the effectiveness of our drone fleet and the skill of our trained pilots. The suspects were concealed from plain sight in dense undergrowth.”
Saunders also noted that the drone operator provided additional key evidence to officers on the ground, adding, “Before our drones team was established in 2020, such an outcome might not have been possible.”
