Fresno police arrested two people suspected in multiple thefts from Dick’s Sporting Goods stores after officers tracked their vehicle with the department’s Drone as a First Responder unit, authorities said.

Police said officers were called shortly before 2 p.m. May 6 to a reported theft in progress at the Dick’s Sporting Goods near Shaw and Valentine avenues. Dispatchers were told the suspects were still inside the store and that a man was concealing merchandise in the front of his shorts.

The male suspect was described as a Hispanic adult wearing a white shirt and black shorts. He was accompanied by a woman wearing a sleeveless top, police said.

The department’s drone unit responded and, while en route, received an update that the suspects had left the store in a gray Honda Pilot heading south. The drone located the SUV as it entered westbound Shaw Avenue traffic and tracked it as it traveled west past Brawley Avenue, made a U-turn and then headed south on Brawley Avenue.

Using real-time updates from the drone, Northeast Fresno officers stopped the vehicle at Weber and Brawley avenues.

During the investigation, officers connected the vehicle’s occupants to the theft at the Shaw Avenue store as well as an earlier theft reported the same day at another Dick’s Sporting Goods location in northeast Fresno, police said.

Officers also found additional items inside the vehicle that are believed to have been stolen. Organized Retail Theft detectives are working to determine whether the suspects may be connected to other thefts, authorities said.

A 39-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of grand theft, and the vehicle was impounded.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.