Menlo Park police used a GPS tracking device to arrest three teenagers accused of driving a stolen vehicle across the Bay Area without carrying out a high-speed chase. The case ended in Berkeley after officers tracked the car from a distance and coordinated with other agencies.
Video shared by ABC7 News Bay Area showed officers deploying the StarChase system during the incident. The footage included dashcam video, images of the launcher, and comments from Menlo Park Police Sergeant Alan Swanson about how the technology works.
Police said the incident started near 999 El Camino Real in Menlo Park during the evening of May 25. Officers identified a vehicle reported stolen and attempted to stop the driver before deploying the tracking device.
The StarChase system allowed officers to end the direct pursuit while monitoring the vehicle through GPS data. Authorities said the method reduced the possibility of crashes and injuries that can happen during pursuits through city streets and freeways.
Officers Deploy GPS Device During Pursuit
According to the Menlo Park Police Department case covered by KTVU, officers spotted the stolen vehicle and initiated a pursuit through Menlo Park streets. During the chase, an officer used the StarChase launcher mounted on a patrol vehicle to fire a GPS-tagged projectile at the suspect car.
The projectile attached to the vehicle and transmitted location data to officers in real time. Once the device connected successfully, police stopped following the car directly and relied on the GPS signal instead.
Sergeant Alan Swanson said the technology allows officers to create distance between patrol vehicles and suspects while maintaining awareness of the vehicle’s movements. Police departments have faced pressure in recent years over pursuit policies because of collisions involving suspects, officers, and bystanders.
Menlo Park Police began using the StarChase system in 2022. Several other Bay Area agencies, including the San Francisco Police Department, also use the technology during vehicle investigations.
Vehicle Tracked From Menlo Park to Berkeley
After officers disengaged from the pursuit, the vehicle continued traveling across the Bay Area while police monitored its movements remotely. Authorities coordinated with agencies in other jurisdictions as the car traveled toward Berkeley.
Police tracked the vehicle into Alameda County and waited until the suspects stopped the car before moving in. Officers then detained all three occupants without another chase.
Authorities identified the suspects as two 15-year-olds and one 13-year-old. Police recovered a replica Glock 19 handgun during the arrests.
Menlo Park police used a StarChase GPS tracker to follow a stolen car from a safe distance, leading to an arrest. Officers say the device, which sticks to a vehicle and provides real‑time data, has a 60% success rate and helps reduce pursuit risks. For more information, click the… pic.twitter.com/hhf6STL2q2
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) May 27, 2026
Investigators said the driver faces charges connected to reckless evading, possession of a stolen vehicle, and firearm-related violations. Officials did not release the names of the juveniles because of their ages.
Dashcam Video Shows Tracking Technology in Action
The video released by ABC7 News Bay Area on X showed officers following the vehicle before deploying the tracking device. Footage also showed the launcher system installed on a patrol vehicle and displayed how the GPS dart attaches to a target vehicle.
Sergeant Swanson explained that the device does not attach successfully every time. Reports indicated the system has about a 60 percent success rate depending on traffic conditions, distance, and placement.
Police agencies across California and other states have expanded the use of tracking technology as departments reassess pursuit policies. Many departments now limit pursuits to incidents involving violent crimes or threats to public safety.
The Menlo Park case demonstrated how officers can track suspects across multiple cities without continuing a direct chase through populated areas. Authorities said the arrests in Berkeley showed the value of combining GPS tracking with coordination between agencies across the Bay Area.