A California police department's drone program helped officers track down and arrest a suspected repeat shoplifter who attempted to flee on a stolen bicycle Tuesday morning and might otherwise have gotten away, officials said.
The incident happed at a Walmart in Clovis, California, where police were called just after 8 a.m. for a known shoplifting suspect. The department's "Drone First Responder" (DFR) program proved crucial in the arrest, officials said.
"The suspect at Walmart stole a bicycle from inside the store, which the staff thought he would, and he took off on that bike," Clovis Police Public Information Officer Ty Wood told ABC News Fresno station.
The suspect, identified by police as 19-year-old Sean Baker, was tracked by the drone as he crossed a nearby street. He now faces charges including shoplifting, possession of burglary tools and obstructing an officer, according to police.
The police spokesperson told ABC News that the department's DFR program currently operates two drones, which can cover more than 90% of community. The department has already ordered a third drone for next year, the spokesperson said.
"We realize that drones are not going to be taking the place of a law enforcement helicopter, but with a city our size, we can't afford a helicopter. These drone first responders are definitely a game changer," the spokesperson told ABC News.
The drones, which typically fly at 200 feet, are equipped with advanced camera systems.
"These cameras are fantastic," Wood told ABC30. "We have the ability to see license plates and get physical descriptions of suspects."
A key advantage of the program is the drones' ability to arrive at scenes before officers. The spokesperson said responding officers can view live drone footage from their patrol car computers while en route to calls.
The suspect "went behind other retail businesses and he would have been lost if it weren't for the drone," Wood told ABC30.
The department, which serves a community of over 129,000 residents, launched its drone program in 2020, according to the spokesperson. The initiative has since become an important part of the department's Real Time Information Center (RTIC), which combines various surveillance systems used for public safety.
