Kids on an Easter Egg Hunt Formed a Human Arrow to Guide a Police Helicopter

On Good Friday, March 25, 2016, about 30 children and their parents gathered in the village of Capel, Surrey for a traditional Easter egg hunt. What started as a wholesome family outing turned into one of the most creative acts of community policing ever seen.

As the group searched for eggs near a disused building off Horsham Road, two men suddenly appeared, sprinting through the fields. The children quickly realized something was wrong — a police helicopter from the National Police Air Service (NPAS) was circling overhead, clearly searching for someone.

The Human Arrow

Without any adult instruction, the children came up with a plan. They lay down in a freshly ploughed field and arranged their bodies into a giant arrow shape, pointing in the direction the suspects had fled.

The NPAS helicopter crew spotted the formation immediately. NPAS Sergeant Paul Sochon later described the scene: "I'm sure the last thing the group of daring Capel residents expected when they set out on Friday afternoon was to abandon their Easter egg hunt to assist us in a police search, but the initiative they demonstrated proved to be invaluable."

Following the children's arrow, the helicopter guided ground officers to the suspects. Two men, aged 27 and 28, were arrested on suspicion of burglary at the nearby disused building. Both were later released on bail, and the case was ultimately dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Sharing Their Easter Chocolate

After the suspects were detained, the NPAS crew landed in the field to personally thank the children. In a sweet twist, the kids shared their own Easter egg hunt chocolate with the crew. As NPAS reported, the children "even shared a few chocolate treats with the team, which was an added bonus after a busy shift."

The story went viral internationally, covered by outlets from the BBC to CNN to ABC News. It became one of the most heartwarming crime stories of 2016, proving that sometimes the best backup a police helicopter can get is a field full of clever kids.

The Legacy

About two weeks later, Surrey Police's Temporary Chief Constable Gavin Stephens visited the children and presented them with certificates to formally recognise their quick thinking. On April 27, the kids were also invited to tour the NPAS helicopter base at Redhill — a fitting reward for their impromptu partnership with the air service.