Drone patrol takes flight to fight Sinoville crime

A fully authorised and carefully planned drone operation was conducted by a private security company in partnership with the Sinoville SAPS and the local community police forum (CPF) recently.

The operation was in response to a sharp rise in armed robberies and house break-ins across Sinoville and the surrounding Wonderboom area.

It aimed to monitor criminal movements across open fields south of Wonderboom Airport, an area believed to be a key entry and escape route for suspects operating in the northern suburbs.

According to Mark Surgeon of ProShield Security Drone Unit, the initiative is driven by the spike in serious crimes in Sinoville.

“This operation was initiated by Sinoville SAPS and the CPF due to the nature of criminal activity in one specific area, where only a drone can effectively observe their movements,” said Surgeon.

ProShield deployed one advanced drone equipped with high-resolution thermal imaging and three additional cameras designed for detailed day and night monitoring.

The drone also features a powerful zoom lens, enabling clear visibility of large and dark areas where suspects may hide or move undetected.

The drone operation was between 21:00 and 23:00, from intelligence suggesting increased criminal movement during these hours.

While no arrests were made on the night, Surgeon said the mission yielded valuable intelligence.

“We made significant progress in identifying the routes that known suspects are using,” he said.

He said ProShield’s drone operations are not ad hoc or freelance surveillance missions. Each deployment follows strict legal and aviation protocols.

“Before our drone unit can operate in controlled airspace for crime prevention, the law requires us to file paperwork with the relevant aviation authorities.

“SAPS provides the necessary documents from their side as an official request to fly,” he explained.

Surgeon added that the collaboration highlighted the growing role of technology in community safety and crime prevention.

Sinoville CPF played a crucial role in co-ordinating the operation, ensuring residents were informed and that the mission complied with safety and privacy regulations.

Surgeon emphasised that they take privacy seriously and operate only under official police request.

“Our drone unit strictly flies in residential areas for crime prevention purposes only. No sensitive information or footage is shared externally.

“Footage is handled in partnership with SAPS, and we respect residents’ privacy at all times,” he said.

While the recent operation focused on one hotspot, the drone unit continues to assist police across the metro with regular day and night surveillance missions.

The company’s registered drones are operated by certified pilots holding valid Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) remote pilot certificates, and built-in software ensures safety by restricting flights near active runways or prohibited areas.

Surgeon believes the visible presence of drone surveillance alone acts as a powerful deterrent.

“Success is inevitable. The unpredictable nature of when and where the drone might be deployed is a wild card for suspects.”

He said once they are visually detected by the thermal imaging camera, escape becomes extremely difficult.

ALSO READ: Rand Water to carry out bulk meter upgrades affecting several Tshwane suburbs

Do you have more information about the story?

Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.

For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East

For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.