Drones Spot Suspects Sneaking Around Bircotes Building Site
Police swooped on a building site near Bircotes after security guards caught suspects lurking around 11.30pm on Sunday. The guards raised the alarm, and officers launched a drone to hunt the intruders.
Drone Chases Crooks Across Open Fields
The drone spotted the suspects over a quarter of a mile away using infrared cameras. Realising they’d been caught, the gang made a run for it across open fields, disappearing into the night.
Investigations are ongoing, but police believe the crooks were hunting for plant machinery and fuel at the site near Snape Lane.
Police Praise Cutting-Edge Tech in Crime Fight
“This is another great example of the power of our drone technology,” said Sergeant Vince Saunders, chief pilot of Nottinghamshire Police’s drone team. “Security guards suspected people were nearby but couldn’t see them in the dark. Our pilot tracked the suspects with an infrared camera and got some crucial footage to aid the investigation.”
The drone team operates 24/7 from police HQ, supporting both emergency call-outs and planned operations.
Nottinghamshire Police Boost Battle Against Rural Crime
Rural crime is a growing concern, and Nottinghamshire Police are stepping up. Officers now use:
- More marked vehicles with searchlights
- Night vision and thermal imaging goggles
- Specialist farm biosecurity kits
- Five off-road motorbikes
- Automatic number plate recognition cameras
- Off-road vehicle stingers
- Expanded drone support
They’re also working with the National Farmers’ Union to better understand rural crime’s impact.
“Criminals target rural communities thinking they’re easy prey,” said Inspector Hayley Crawford, District Commander for Bassetlaw. “This case proves otherwise. We’ve got more officers, better equipment, and strong local partnerships to tackle these criminals head-on.”
If you have info on this incident, call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 and quote incident 759 of 2 April.
