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Cops test using drone with searchlight to catch thieves

Cops joked an eerie photo taken during the test flight made it appear an officer was being abducted by aliens.

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(TVP_RuralCrime via SWNS)

By Ashley Pemberton via SWNS

Police officers have trialled the use of a drone at night to catch rural thieves and hare coursers using a searchlight.

Cops joked an eerie photo taken during the test flight made it appear an officer was being abducted by aliens.

Officers from Thames Valley Police's rural task force, set up earlier this year, captured an eerie image as they tested their equipment unde the night sky.

They tweeted: "The rural crime task force have a fleet of #DJI drones at their disposal for gathering evidence and locating suspects!

"The team recently practiced their night flying skills utilizing the searchlight. Hopefully, any witnesses didnā€™t think PS Maris was being abducted by aliens."

The force said the drones are used for gathering evidence and locating suspects and have been in search and rescue callouts.

Cops trial drone to catch rural thieves and hare coursers. See SWNS story SWSMdrone. The TVPrural crime taskforce have a fleet of DJI drones at their disposal for gathering evidence & locating suspects! The team recently practiced their night flying skills utilising the search light! Hopefully any witnesses didnĀ’t think PS Maris was being abducted by

The task force, set up in March this year, sees police officers, intelligence support units and drone units team up to tackle serious and organised rural crime.

The drones have been used in a number to tackle hare coursing, poaching and the theft of a plant machine believed to be worth in the region of Ā£250,000 since the launch.

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