Moment as cops fire a GPS tracking dart to catch criminals during a chase when a new device flies out of the bumper on command

DASHCAM footage showed the moment police officers fired a GPS tracking dart at a suspected burglar's vehicle during the pursuit.

GPS company StarChase's new tracking tool was recently used in a hunt for two suspects who allegedly broke into a liquor store in Oak Park, Illinois, about 30 minutes west of Chicago.

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The StarChase GPS Tag DartPhoto credit: News Nation

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Dashcam footage shows the moment the arrow was fired from the patrol carPhoto credit: News Nation

The two suspects were on the run from the break-in on Thursday when police were alerted to the fleeing vehicles and quickly got behind the speeding car.

An officer from Oak Brook, another Chicago suburb, drove behind the suspected criminal's vehicle and deployed the GPS tracking arrow.

A video showed the day arrow shooting out of the front of the patrol car and attaching itself to the pursued vehicle.

Oak Brook Police Chief Brian Strockis explained to NewsNation how the technology works.

“An officer pushes a button and it heats up an epoxy resin for the actual arrow,” Strockis said.

“This arrow contains a GPS tracking device and also a very powerful magnet that shoots out of the front of the patrol car’s bumper and attaches itself to the rear of the fleeing vehicle.”

After the arrow got stuck on the car, officers were able to safely pull away and end the chase as they pursued the fleeing suspects.

The officer uses the GPS arrow by breaking off the pursuit, bringing up a computer screen, and tracking the arrow's location.

The GPS information was sent to Oak Park Police after the vehicle left the area, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

Officials arrested the two suspects at around 4:45 a.m. on Thursday.

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“If you had told me when I started 24 years ago that we would be shooting GPS darts out the front of a squad car, I would have said you were crazy,” Strockis said.

“But technology is advancing so much, particularly in law enforcement, that it’s just amazing to see where we’ve gotten to.”

Strockis told CBS News that technology is changing the nature of typical police activity.

“It makes all the difference in the world,” Strockis said.

Full statement from StarChase

StarChase shared the following statement about their technology after it was recently used to arrest suspects in Chicago:

“StarChase is used at all levels of law enforcement, from federal and state police (25% of the country's state patrols), large counties/cities, and agencies of various sizes (in 40 states),” the company told CBS News.

“The vast majority of our agency partners choose to maintain their anonymity for tactical reasons – which we respect as part of our relationship as providers.

“Notable agencies that have publicly acknowledged the implementation of programs in the recent past include the NYPD and the Mass State Police. Both agencies have undertaken large procurements and achieved significantly impactful results. We have far exceeded the number of missions of 10,000 – almost three times as much.”

“Agencies recognize the imperative to adopt different strategies and the use of technology to this end has been a significant investment.”

“Crime detection platforms (LPR, cameras, etc.) have become a necessity for law enforcement, and StarChase remains committed to strategically adapting to these resources (Real-Time Crime Centers and Fusion Centers). Oak Brook PD uses this exact design.

“Providing real-time data during a pursuit (or pre-pursuit) operation is critical to providing law enforcement with the information they need to ensure an appropriate response and provide resources to apprehend a suspect in the safest possible conditions. “

“Our integration capabilities enable multiple tools to work together and collaboratively to de-escalate these potentially high-risk events.”

“This significantly improves the safety of the officers and suspects involved, as well as the public.”

“Police pursuits are inherently dangerous, but I also believe that it is very dangerous for criminals to have no consequences.”

The arrows allow police to safely track down suspects without them noticing.

“No warrant is required to use this device,” Strockis said.

“We have reasonable suspicion and probable cause that the vehicle will flee.

“It is a public safety tool to ensure the safety of not only officers, but also the public.”

NEW HORIZONS

Oak Brook police reported that they use the darts weekly – meaning they also help neighboring police departments.

Now CBS News is reporting that the Chicago Police Department has talked about introducing the technology to their city.

StarChase said in a statement that the tool de-escalates high-risk situations.

“Our integration capabilities enable multiple tools to work together and collaboratively to de-escalate these potentially high-risk events,” the company said in a statement to CBS News.

“This significantly improves the safety of the officers and suspects involved, as well as the public.”