A bizarre incident in Londerzeel (Flemish Brabant) has sparked fears that burglars may be using drones to reconnoitre their targets. Police in the Flemish Brabantine municipality launched an unusual pursuit last night as they embarked upon a chase on a drone. A local resident had seen the device flying above his home and immediately notified the police. Officers attended the scene but soon lost sight of the drone.
Around 8PM last night, police from the local police zone encompassing Kapelle-op-den-Bos, Londerzeel and Meise were alerted to strange goings on. A Londerzeel resident reported a drone flying low over his home. Fearing a possible burglary, he called the police. Officer Franky Maes: ‘Colleagues attended the scene and saw a drone flying nearby.’
Once the police had arrived, the craft flew off. Officers set out in hot pursuit. ‘We were able to follow it as far as Buggenhout (East Flanders). There we saw it continuing its flight towards Baasrode and Dendermonde but could not keep up with it.’
Burglars at work?
The drone has not yet been linked to any particular burglary. But the police are continuing to investigate. ‘We have received reports of drones before. These were usually deployed by utility companies examining gas or water pipes. We do not yet have any evidence linking the drone to an attempted burglary, but we remain alert.’