(NewsNation) — Police are using drones to help catch suspects, including potential petty thieves and shoplifters.

Officers in Oklahoma City and Bensalem Township, just outside Philadelphia, are using drones to aid in their investigations as many retail chains throughout the region battle shoplifting and retail theft.

In March, Tucson, Arizona, police said security footage captured two women stealing $74,000 worth of skincare products from several Target stores. Authorities arrested three people in connection with the crime spree.

In Georgia, Gwinnett County police arrested a shoplifting suspect with the help of aviation and police dogs.

Oklahoma City Police Sgt. Dillon Quirk joined “NewsNation Now” to discuss how the department’s drone initiative is working.

“We use drones in various activities, and they’re absolutely effective,” he said. “From a safety standpoint, they are very safe for officers to use. They are quickly deployed in certain scenarios, and we’re able to cover a lot of ground quickly and get certain officers back onto the street.”

Certain search efforts can also take a long time if officers are relying solely on police dogs.

“Whereas, if we can get a drone in the air and quickly spot that suspect hiding in various manners, then we can direct that K9 unit to where that suspect is hiding,” Quirk said.

As for privacy, Quirk says police are usually conducting targeted surveillance, during which drones travel a specific route.

“When you talk about open grid searches, the possibility of the cameras catching something is always there,” he said.

NewsNation digital reporter Katie Smith contributed to this report.