Has Led To More than 500 Arrests In Only A Few Months Of Operation

A drone operated by authorities in Ensenada, Mexico about to hours south of Tijuana has led to a significant decrease in overall crime in the city. Ensenada police say that in only a few months operation, their one DJI Inspire 1 drone has led to more than 500 arrests and contributed to an overall 10 percent drop in the crime rate, including a 30 percent drop in residential robberies.

Wired reports that over the past four months, the drone has flown an average of 25 sorties per day. The drone is deployed based on 911 call volume. It is operated from a centralized control room using software developed by Cape, a California-based company, that automates much of the flying.

Jesus Ramos Avendaño, CTO of the Ensenada police force, said the drone has significantly reduced response times following a 911 call. More criminals have been caught in the act using the drone, he said.

Cape CEO Chris Rittler said that drones often are redirected to a potential crime scene during a flight that is already underway. The drone can reach that location before police on the ground and give them visual information about the situation. Any authorized officer can access live video streaming from the drone while it is in the field.

Rittler said that thieves "have a clock in their head" to estimate the time from when they force entry to when police arrive. The drone significantly decreases that time window, he said.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original report