- A drone captured a suspect smashing car windows and stealing a phone in Cape Town.
- The incident occurred at the Malibongwe and N7 intersection.
Cape Town’s advanced drone technology played a pivotal role in capturing footage of a suspect engaged in a smash-and-grab spree at the Malibongwe and N7 intersection.
Watch: Cape Town suspect caught by drone on a smash-and-grab spree
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The incident, which saw three car windows smashed within minutes, showcased the effectiveness of the City of Cape Town’s recently implemented Information, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) technology.
The suspect first targeted a passenger in one car, stealing their phone.
He then randomly smashed the windows of two other vehicles.
Fortunately, the victims managed to escape unharmed.
The drone footage, provided by the City of Cape Town, clearly shows the suspect’s actions and his attempts to flee the scene.
Cape Town launched the ISR technology, also known as Eye-in-the-Sky, in May 2024.
This two-seater piloted aircraft is equipped with state-of-the-art cameras capable of providing high-definition aerial imagery, significantly enhancing the city’s policing operations.
The aircraft can fly higher than traditional drones and is fitted with infrared cameras.
These cameras can detect the heat from recently fired firearms, body heat in cold water, or the wheels of speeding vehicles.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde expressed his admiration for the Eye-in-the-Sky’s crime-fighting capabilities.
“I am impressed by Eye-in-the-Sky’s crime-fighting capability, which will give the edge to our 1,300 new officers we have deployed via the LEAP partnership between the Western Cape Government and City,” he said.
The deployment of this sophisticated technology marks a significant step toward smarter policing in Cape Town.