Police use drone to track, arrest suspect on the run in Farmington Hills

Farmington Hills police use drone to capture suspect on the run

A suspect wanted in a string of car break-ins could not hide from a drone's nightvision camera.

FOX 2 - A 17-year-old Novi teen was arrested for stealing from cars in a Farmington Hills with the use of a drone by Farmington Hills police.

The backstory:

The drone, which has thermal imaging technology, was used to help track down the suspect in the early morning hours of Monday, police said.

After reports of a series of stolen items from cars during the weekend, extra patrols were sent to neighborhoods.

"An officer with a keen eye noticed that the interior lights of several vehicles parked in driveways were on, while patrolling a subdivision in the area of 12 Mile Road and Drake Road," police said in a release.  

"The officer called for additional units to respond to the area and requested that a drone be deployed to search the area from the sky."

The drone pilot arrived and deployed a drone with thermal imaging capabilities and picked up the suspect's heat signature.

The suspect was monitored and seen running through the neighborhood while actively trying to hide from police.

The drone pilot reported the suspect’s location to arriving units, who successfully tracked the suspect to a wooded area near the northwest corner of 12 Mile Road and Drake Road.

Patrol officers converged and found the suspect hiding in the woods dressed in all black.

"At 4 a.m. officers can be within 5 to 10 yards of somebody and not see them concealed in the bushes because of the dark conditions and not being able to see on the other side of the bush," said Capt. Dominic Lauria. "This thermal technology is able to look at these heat signatures and you can see not only the person, but you can see the path that they took until that path returns to its normal temperature.

"If they sit in an area for a long time they can see that as well. It truly turns darkness into light."

The suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Police say that evidence recovered from the scene links the suspect to numerous larcenies from vehicles in the neighborhood.

The juvenile suspect was released to his guardian, pending a review of the investigation by the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office Juvenile Division.

"There are two easy ways that community members can prevent a similar crime: never leave valuables in a car and always lock car doors," said Chief Piggott. "Many of these thefts are crimes of opportunity. By taking a few extra seconds to secure your car, you remove that opportunity and help keep our community safe."

If you believe you were a victim or have any information about these incidents, please call the Farmington Hills Police Department at 248-871-2610.