District 3 Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) Commander Jason Cokinos Shared information surrounding a recent incident in Silver Spring that highlights the use of drones in policing, showcasing how they can serve as a game-changer in the fight against retail theft.
According to Cokinos, the six juveniles suspects attempted to execute a retail heist at a downtown Silver Sprint business, but their escape plan was thwarted by a police drone. The MCPD’s Drone as First Responder (DFR) team was monitoring live 911 calls when a report of the theft came in. Within a mere 30 seconds, the drone, known as “RAVEN 1,” was airborne and on its way to the scene.
The swift response of the drone allowed law enforcement to track the fleeing suspects in real time. As they attempted to escape on a Ride On bus, the drone followed their movements until ground patrol officers could intercept the vehicle. Thanks to this coordinated effort, all six juveniles were apprehended, and the stolen merchandise was successfully recovered.
MCPD’s use of drones is part of a broader strategy to tackle retail theft. The police commander’s tweet emphasized the proactive approach being taken, with plans for more comprehensive retail theft initiatives that will include uniformed officers, plainclothes officers, and drone surveillance. This multifaceted strategy is designed to create a robust response system that addresses the issue from various angles. The tweet can be seen quoted in full below:
6 Juveniles arrested for retail theft: They thought they escaped, but little did they know the drone was overhead…. 😎
This afternoon your @mcpnews Drone as First Responder (DFR) team was busy monitoring live 911 calls. One of our downtown Silver Spring businesses called 911 to advise 6 juveniles swarmed the store and were stealing.
“RAVEN 1” was over the location within 30 seconds and spotted the suspects fleeing. They were tracked onto a Ride On bus and followed by the drone until patrol officers could intercept the bus.
All were arrested and stolen merchandise was recovered.
Thanks to @TakomaParkPD for assisting our officers.Hey thieves!! We are coming for you 🫵🏼
Retail theft initiatives with uniform officers, plain clothes officers, and drones coming soon!!