LONDON – Burglars in the United Kingdom are using drones over private homes to take surveillance images to identify home security weaknesses.
Officials with the Suffolk Constabulary confirmed receiving at least one report of drones being used by intruders to single out potential victims, The Telegraph reports.
The mini-helicopters, which can be purchased for as little as £30 ($46.95), are highly-maneuverable. Some models can carry high definition cameras which can capture video and still images.
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Authorities fear that the technology will allow thieves to search properties from the air and be able to identify weak spots in homes, such as older-style patio or French doors that can be easily forced open.
Police believe larger homes with substantial grounds may be the most likely target for thieves using drones.
The use of drones in home intrusions is a also a growing trend in the United States. A criminal group known as the Tub Gang has used drones in New York and New Jersey to pinpoint burglary targets.
Digital footage on one drone recovered by police included stills of properties in Manhattan as well as commercial properties.
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Despite the new information, authorities note that the technology could actually be detrimental to thieves.
“Drones can be noisy and very visible so hopefully criminals risk giving themselves away,” Paul Ford, secretary of the Police Federation National Detectives Forum told The Telegraph.
