By the time they realized it was the police, it was too late for them to run. There have been times when our tactical unit has penetrated these high crime areas and has silently slipped to within a few feet of the people engaged in criminal activity. Some of the suspects walked right past us, so close we could feel their breath. As the suspects left the area, we would simply radio a nearby patrol unit who would then stop the suspect and investigate. We can also apply the same techniques when we know bar owners are allowing people to drink illegally or to leave their establishments too intoxicated to drive.
Shadows can be very helpful in committing a crime.
The nighttime criminal knows this well, and that's why he chooses to use the dark to his advantage. He thinks this gives him the edge, and allows him to turn the dark against the good citizen he victimizes. And unfortunately, sometimes it does. But police officers know the advantages of the dark as well. Sometimes a shadow is a police officer's best friend.