Officers are crediting their new helicopter for helping out with more than 50 incidents during its first week of operation.

In once incident, the helicopter was used on Feb. 6 to locate an intoxicated stabbing victim who ran from officers in the Sheppard Street and Mapleton Drive area of The Maples and could not be located by officers on the ground.

"Potentially by having that helicopter up there and them locating this victim, we may have saved our first life with the helicopter," said Const. Shaun Chornley from Winnipeg police.

Around 9 p.m. Wednesday night, burglars tried to break into a home on Riverton Avenue and suspects took off on foot, said police.

Mandy Connolly was returning home when she noticed something wasn't right.

"They had smashed the frosted glass on the door," she said. Connolly said she was impressed with the helicopter's ability to track those on the ground.

Within minutes of the break-in call, officers responded both on the ground and in the helicopter, she said.

Officers said they were able to spot suspects from the air.

Suspects were arrested Wednesday night, but police said Thursday they may not have been linked to the break-in and so far charges have not yet been laid.

The helicopter has been in the air for about a week. It cost the city $3.5 million to buy it and the province is spending another $1.3 million annually in operating costs.

- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley