Thieves steal drone out of City car

A quadcopter owned by the City of San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks Department was stolen last Tuesday morning.

The drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle, was also equipped with a camera. Valued at more than $3,000, the equipment was taken at approximately 6 a.m. from a city employee’s vehicle while parked at the McLaren Lodge, according to spokeswoman Connie Chan.

Chan said the Department has acquired quadcopters to try the technology out as a way of assessing trees and park facilities for maintenance, repairs and other improvements.

One system was tested a single time, but department management directed their employees not to use the technology again until the city develops policies and guidelines for their use, Chan said.