Hong Kong police will introduce drone patrols in urban areas in the second half of the year in a bid to prevent burglaries, the Post has learned.

A source revealed that the drones would be used to patrol areas with a concentration of old tenement buildings, such as Yau Tsim Mong and Sham Shui Po districts in Kowloon.

“One of the purposes will be to tackle burglaries, targeting buildings covered with scaffolding,” the insider said.

“That’s why the patrols will be launched in areas with more tenement buildings, as renovation works for ageing buildings require the use of scaffolding, and that is an easy spot for burglars.”