New York City police apprehended a suspect in a Brooklyn pharmacy burglary by tracking him from a helicopter, authorities said.
The incident occurred early Wednesday when an individual broke into Neergard Pharmacy in Park Slope. According to police, the suspect stole approximately $2,200 in cash and about 100 pills before fleeing the scene. Responding officers arrived to find the pharmacy already empty.
The NYPD's Aviation Unit was deployed, and detectives used helicopter cameras to locate the suspect. Video footage showed the helicopter hovering above the individual as ground officers closed in. The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Ralph Wilson, surrendered to police in Queens, approximately 13 miles from the pharmacy.
Wilson is accused of stealing oxycodone, codeine, and Xanax, along with the cash from the pharmacy's register. Police sources indicated that Wilson has a history of arrests, including multiple previous burglary charges dating back to 2015 and a felony assault charge from 2017.
For this incident, Wilson faces charges of burglary and possession of a controlled substance. Data from the NYPD indicates that burglaries in Brooklyn's 78th Precinct, where the pharmacy is located, are down 16% year-to-date compared to the same period last year. Citywide, burglary rates have decreased by 15%.