Police relied on a drone with a thermal imaging camera to track down and arrest lorry thieves in Nottinghamshire last month.
The three suspects were captured in dense undergrowth in South Normanton in the dead of night after fleeing from an HGV on a retail park.
The lorry, which was believed to have been stolen, failed to stop for officers on the M1 and was then abandoned near the A38.
With the men nowhere to be seen, a police drone and a dog unit were deployed to help with the search.
The camera attached to the drone soon picked up three figures lying prone in the undergrowth.
Nottinghamshire police said three men, aged 25, 20 and 20 were then arrested on suspicion of various offences, including theft of a motor vehicle and failing to stop.
Sergeant Vince Saunders, at Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This is another great example of the power and potential of our drone fleet and our highly trained pilots.
“The suspects in this case were found lying in dense undergrowth and were not visible to the naked eye.
“In addition to tracking and helping to detain the suspects in this case, the pilot was also able to alert officers on the ground to vital additional evidence.
“Before our drones team was established in 2020 this result may not have been possible.”
