Thermal imaging drones were used to guide officers to a suspect involved in a strange incident in Hanover. Hanover Police Service officers were patrolling the industrial park area on 14th Avenue on Tuesday around 4:10 a.m. when they spotted two males dressed all in black. They were walking near a distribution facility and carrying cardboard boxes. When officers tried to approach the pair, they ran off in opposite directions. Police circled the area and they asked the Hanover Fire Department (HFD) to send out their thermal imaging drones to help track down the duo. Shortly after 5 a.m., the drone operators found one suspect hiding under overgrown grass. In a news release, Hanover Police said the suspect was arrested while he was “surrounded by boxes of potato chips.” During the arrest, they seized edged weapons and a set of bolt cutters. Officers also learned the suspect was wanted for crimes in a neighbouring jurisdiction. Hanover Police Chief Christopher Knoll praised the teamwork that led to the arrest. “The HFD Drone Operators were able to quickly search over 50 acres before the suspect was located and highlights the great skills of the operators, excellent use of technology and the awesome teamwork between our emergency services.” An ensuing investigation revealed several chip trucks had been forcibly entered in the area. The 37-year-old man from Brockton was charged with theft under $5,000, mischief under $5,000, possession of break-in instruments and possession of property obtained by crime. Police are still looking for the second suspect, but say he has already been identified.
