Cool story - Teenagers use Drone to Catch Boat Thieves (Video at link)

[malaise]

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/14-year-old-uses-drone-to-chase-down-camano-island-boat-thieves-police-say/
<snip>
Two suspects were arrested Wednesday after a teenager with a helicopter drone saw a boat being stolen from Elger Bay on Camano Island.

Fourteen-year-old Christopher Harris, a soon-to-be high-school freshman from California, was vacationing with his family on Camano when he and a friend overheard the engine to their Zodiac watercraft start up.

Reached Thursday morning, Harris said he looked toward the buoy where the boat was tied and saw two people trying to tie it to their own boat. As the pair fled the scene with the Zodiac in tow, Harris said he quickly launched a helicopter drone in an attempt to track the suspects from the air.

“I was thinking that over the water was the best way to follow them, because the islands are too dense with trees,” he said. “Once they’re on land, they’re gone.”

Harris said he received the drone earlier this year as a gift for making the honor roll. Using an iPad, Harris said he used the drone to track the boat as it sped across the bay.

[scscholar]

1. This doesn't sound like legal use of a drone

I know my neighbor was caught for going too high while chasing a car thief.

[rjsquirrel]

2. Tracking your own stolen property?

If it ain't legal, I'd like to meet the prosecutor who'd indict or they're that would convict.


Smart thinking.

[scscholar]

4. It's still illega according to many rules, including the 400' rule. (ntxt)

[malaise]

3. Over water?

Why?

Wasn't your neighbor chasing in traffic?