High-speed police chases are both dangerous and expensive in derms of damage to property and person. Many department are now prohibiting high-speed pursuits, and suspects are taking advantage of this policy by fleeing at high speed and by "ditching" their vehicles in crowded parking lots. Using a thermal imager, a police helicopter can track a suspect's vehicle easily from the air, even when he turns off his highlights. Likewise, a patrol car, using a vehicle-mounted imager, can track a suspect's vehicle in a crowded parking lot or a remote area by detecting the heat of the recently driven vehicle.