ST. LOUIS — Car thefts have been a persistent issue in St. Louis.
Tyrone Hayes, a grandfather from north St. Louis, shared his harrowing experience with the I-Team last year. A thief stole his car right in front of him, nearly driving off with his granddaughter inside.
Others, like Latoya Jones, have dealt with a string of Hyundai and Kia thefts in recent years.
“I can't believe that they made a vehicle and put it out there where people can steal it so easy," she told the I-Team last year.
To combat this, law enforcement has turned to the skies. Officer Matt Callahan with St. Louis County’s Metro Air Support Unit explained how helicopters play a crucial role.
“We're always up watching and available to assist any way possible," he said. "We patrol St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and St. Louis City. We're also a regional asset. Couple of our helicopters are bought with regional funds... We do a lot of work in Illinois, sometimes if they request us to go over there. Our units have gone down as far as Cape Girardeau, and just the entire region."
Last year, these helicopters helped recover about 130 stolen vehicles, valued at over $3 million. But it’s not just a dollar number they’re chasing. It’s about getting the people stealing cars to slow down.
Callahan describes the high-speed chases he witnesses, with some drivers fleeing police at up to 170 mph. The people behind these thefts are as young as 12 years old.
“It was surprising how young some of these suspects are these days," he said.
These dangerous police pursuits put other drivers at risk. That’s when he steps in.
“It allows the officers on the ground to disengage or to fall back, turn off their lights, at which time, a lot of times those occupants of the stolen vehicle will then slow down," Callahan said.
While overhead, pilots coordinate with officers on the street.
"So we're kind of quarterbacking the maneuvers of the officers on the ground so they can do it safely," he said.
St. Louis County's helicopters contributed to about 530 arrests last year alone. Callahan emphasized that drivers also play a crucial role.
“Winter months people leaving the keys in the car warming them up or leaving their cars running at gas stations. Seems like it's almost a crime of opportunity," he said.
Overall, auto thefts are down in the St. Louis area for both the city and the county. Callahan believes the use of helicopters are one promising tool in the fight to keep communities safe.