Redwood City Police Department Utilizes Drone Technology in Construction Site Burglary Incident
REDWOOD CITY, CA — “On May 6, 2026, the Redwood City Police Department responded to a report of suspicious activity at a construction site in the 500 block of East Bayshore Road. The call originated from Pro-Vigil, a private security company that utilizes motion-activated surveillance systems monitored in real time to detect and report potential criminal activity.
At approximately 11:00 P.M., Pro-Vigil technicians observed an unknown subject unlawfully entering a secured construction site and notified the Redwood City Police Department.
Officers deployed the Department’s Skydio Drone as a First Responder (DFR), which arrived on scene ahead of ground units. Due to the size of the property and limited lighting conditions, the drone operator utilized a thermal imaging camera to quickly locate the suspect within the site.
Upon noticing the drone, the suspect attempted to flee on foot toward an adjacent marsh area. The drone maintained continuous visual tracking, allowing responding officers to coordinate their approach and safely take the suspect into custody.
The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Miguel Antonio Pargaz of San Jose. He was arrested and booked into the San Mateo County Maguire Correctional Facility on the following charges:
- 460(b) PC – Commercial Burglary
- 466 PC – Possession of Burglary Tools
- 148(a)(1) PC – Obstructing a Peace Officer
Burglary offenses are often discovered after the fact, when suspects have already fled and evidence has been lost. This incident demonstrates the effectiveness of real-time technology and strong partnerships between law enforcement and private security providers.
The combination of Pro-Vigil’s monitoring capabilities and the Department’s DFR program enabled officers to detect criminal activity as it occurred, maintain continuous observation, and safely apprehend the suspect with minimal risk to the public and responding personnel.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to contact the Redwood City Police Department non-emergency line at (650) 780-7100.”
