Police Drones Nab Airbnb Burglars in Portland Sting

Drones aren’t just for epic aerial shots anymore, fellas. In Southeast Portland, the cops are using these high-flying gadgets to bust criminals, and they just proved it by catching two burglars in the act at an Airbnb. This isn’t your grandpa’s police chase—it’s high-tech, safe, and downright cool. Let’s break down how Portland’s finest used a drone to snag a couple of sticky-fingered intruders and why this tech is a game-changer for law enforcement.

Drones Take the Lead in Airbnb Break-In

Picture this: it’s late Thursday night in Portland’s Belmont neighborhood, and Trevor Stout, the guy running the show for Simply Vacation Rental Management, hears footsteps upstairs. He’s chilling in the basement of one of his Airbnb properties when he realizes something’s off. No guests are booked, but someone’s rummaging around. Creepy, right? Stout grabs his phone, dials 911, and the Portland Police Bureau rolls in hot.

The cops don’t barge in guns blazing. Instead, they play it smart. After the suspects—33-year-old Kyle Lee Davis and 21-year-old Magdeline Falkenburg—ignore megaphone orders to come out, the police send in a drone, reports KGW8.

Yup, a tiny flying robot with a camera buzzes into the house, scopes the scene, and finds the duo hiding in the attic. No need for a risky face-to-face showdown. The drone does the dirty work, spotting the burglars without putting officers in harm’s way. Davis and Falkenburg are cuffed, charged with first-degree burglary, and hauled off. Talk about a high-tech takedown!

Why Drones Are the New MVP in Policing

This ain’t science fiction, guys. Portland’s police drone program is changing the game. Sgt. Kevin Allen, a Portland police spokesperson, says these little flyers give officers a serious edge. “We get a peek inside without sending anyone into a potential ambush,” he explains. The drone’s camera feeds real-time intel, letting cops plan their moves without guessing what’s behind the door. It’s like having X-ray vision, minus the superhero cape.

The best part? It’s safer for everyone. Officers don’t have to storm in blind, and suspects are less likely to escalate things when a drone’s already got eyes on them. In this case, the drone pinpointed Davis and Falkenburg’s attic hideout, letting police swoop in with zero drama. Oh, and that stolen black Honda they used to roll up? Cops found that too, complete with mismatched plates. These burglars didn’t stand a chance against the drone’s eagle-eye view.

But don’t worry about Big Brother vibes. Oregon law keeps things tight—cops need a warrant or the owner’s permission to fly drones inside, except in emergencies. Portland’s even got a public dashboard and map tracking where and when drones are used, so you know they’re not sneaking around your backyard pool party.

Investigating, I found on the Portland Police Bureau UAS Annual Report for the year 2024 that the PPB UAS operates the DJI Matrice 30T as its primary overwatch and tactical drone. PPB UAS also operates two DJI Matrice 3T’s, which are smaller platforms with a thermal camera but cannot be flown in the rain.

And finally, what it matters the most for this article, that for interior flight, training, and short flights in the DJI Avata and DJI Mini 2 are utilized. From the video stills that we have here, the drone used totally looked like a DJI Avata with attached LED lights.

Airbnb Break-Ins: A Growing Problem

Here’s where it gets real for folks like us who dig tech and travel. Trevor Stout says his rental biz has been hit hard lately—20 break-ins in just three months! That’s five in one week alone. Thieves are targeting short-term rentals like Airbnbs, thinking they’re easy pickings. Open windows, smashed lockboxes, and snatched keys are their M.O. In this case, Stout thinks the burglars slipped in through an unlocked window, but they were eyeballing his basement door too. Good thing he was home to sound the alarm.

Stout’s seen everything from stolen TVs to an entire five-bedroom home gutted. “We’ve managed units for 10 years, and this year’s been the worst,” he says. The losses? Thousands of bucks. His company’s fighting back by ditching old-school locks for smart ones with unique guest codes. Smart move, Trevor. Maybe it’s time for more drone patrols to keep these crooks on their toes.

The Future of Drones in Law Enforcement

This Portland bust shows why drones are more than just toys for us hobbyists. They’re legit tools for keeping the peace. Portland’s drone program is still in its year-long pilot phase, but stories like this prove it’s worth keeping around. Other cities, like Vancouver, are jumping on the drone bandwagon too, using them as first responders. Imagine a fleet of DJI Matrices to crime scenes, scouting danger zones, and saving the day. Sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi flick, but it’s happening now.

For us drone nerds, this is exciting stuff. The same tech we use to capture sweet sunset shots is out there catching bad guys. But it’s also a reminder to fly smart and respect the rules—nobody wants their DJI getting a bad rap. So, what’s next? More departments adopting drones? Smarter AI-powered flyers? Whatever it is, I’m stoked to see where this tech takes us. For now, let’s raise a glass to Portland’s drone squad for bagging those burglars without breaking a sweat.

Photographs courtesy of FOX12 Oregon and Portland Police