The skies over Cape Cod have become the latest theater for mysterious drone sightings, as residents of both Harwich and Barnstable have reported unusual aerial activity. On Thursday night, a Harwich resident contacted local police to report 10 to 15 drones hovering over her home at 9 p.m., according to NBC Boston. The drones, described as very bright and silent, remained in the area for more than an hour. Meanwhile, police in Barnstable received reports of three large drones moving erratically over the waters near Sea View Ave. in Osterville.
Lindsay Muto, a Harwich local, recounted her encounter with the drones to CBS Boston, saying, "So, I got my husband and I'm like 'I think are these the drones that they have been talking about in New Jersey?' My husband's like 'oh my gosh, I think they are.' So, he went out to get his drone out of his car, which he uses for work, and tried to fly it to get a little bit closer and his drone went down." Her description aligns with the Harwich Police Department's account of the incident, mentioning drones that shifted colors from red, to green to blue.
An off-duty Harwich police officer had also noticed the drones that evening, specifically near the Public Safety Complex on Sisson Road. According to statements reported by both NBC Boston and CBS Boston, Harwich Police Chief Kevin Considine acknowledged the difficulty for local authorities in monitoring such aerial devices, "They are tough to manage, and that's why the first thing we did today was just submit our report to our local partners from the federal government and the state police just so they can start looking into it."
The incidents have not escaped the attention of larger authorities. The FBI's Boston Field Office and the Massachusetts State Police have been informed of the sightings, which resemble the recent string of drone appearances over New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Despite deepening concerns and calls for investigation by state officials like New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, the FBI has yet to find any evidence of a threat to national security or public safety, as stated in a letter addressed to President Biden, and reported by CBS Boston.
