Police use bait cars to catch thieves [car thieves caught in doctored cars]

American City and County ^ | Jun 8, 2004 | American City and County

[summer]

Police use bait cars to catch thieves

Jun 8, 2004 9:38 AM

Areas in Aurora and Douglas counties in Colorado are usually hot spots for car thieves, but since some new technology has been introduced, there has been a reduction in the crime. Police have been using special bait cars, which allow officers to remotely disable the car engine, turn on lights and lock car doors. The cars also are equipped with hidden cameras and a GPS system, so officers can see the reaction of thieves and follow the cars.

To see a video, go HERE.

[summer]

If you saw The Countdown with Keith O. on MSNBC tonight, then you saw this story. I happened to see it, and the video they show is really amazing. The show is on again at midnight, EST.

Seeing these car thieves, especially the ones who realize they are in a "bait car" because they can't get out, is very amusing. Then, the police also have the theme to COPS play on the car's stereo which really freaks out the thieves. Meanwhile, it is all caught on a camera hidden in the car, and often, the thieves are diriving the car (while a computer follows their path). A very clever crime fighting tool.

In one city they said car thieves are down 30% because they have one of these cars parked on every block (and the cars are being stolen). Police also said they've never lost a case in court using this tool, since everything is on videotape.

[krb]

Wow...what a good idea, and a good use of police time!

[summer]

diriving = driving

[annyokie]

This strikes me as incredible waste of resources.

[summer]

Oh, it is great. And, these criminals -- seeing them on these videotapes they showed tonight on that MSNBC news show I mentioned; well, just try to see that show tonight if you can. VERY, VERY interesting stuff! (And, quite entertaining.)

[summer]

No, not at all - because as the police explain, they rarely merely catch a car thief. The cars are often stolen by 2 people, there are often drugs, stolen goods, unlicensed weapons found, and, the car thieves are often en route to committ a robbery or burglery. So, they are often hauling in much more than a car thief, though I think that alone would be a good catch, too.

[summer]

And you gotta see the faces of these car thieves, as they try to change the music station in the car stero -- and then realize that's the only song that it plays.

[Nonesuch]

This strikes me as incredible waste of resources.

Let me guess -- you don't own a car?

Seems that this could actually be profitable, they can get the electronic alarm vendors to pay for (aka "sponsor") the GPS and other toys, and then sell the video footage to TV.

[goodnesswins]

I don't think it's a waste of resources at all....come to Tacoma, WA.....one of the highest car thief areas....and our insurance rates reflect it. THIS sounds great to me.

[summer]

Oh, I wish they would. Great idea you have there!

[Chad Fairbanks]

I think it would be interesting to see what happens the first time someone gets caught in one of these, and the cops forget about the car and they die...

[Ronin]

This idea has been around a while. They call it the Manhattan mousetrap.

[summer]

THIS sounds great to me.

It is great. One of the few news stories I've really enjoyed watching!

[annyokie]

Get real. I lived in San Diego in the late 80's and had at least three break-ins and a stolen radio.

If we'd fund the PD they could patrol more often. This is dumb, not unlike cops pretending to be drug buyers or johns.

[summer]

This was the first time I've heard of it, and I think it must have changed or improved over the years. I did a google search and saw you right; it's been around for awhile, but, they must have upgraded it or something. This segment I'm describing on tv was just shown on tv tonight. And, Manhattan was NOT mentioned, to my surprise (as I know there's a stolen car problem there). A number of other cities were mentioned, however.

[Az. Mike]

They do this in Phoenix, as well. Phoenix has one of the highest car theft rates in the nation and this has been putting a pretty serious dent in the statistics. The biggest perps? You guessed it - illegal aliens.

[Ronin]

In the simpliest form, they just remove the door handles from the inside of the car and disconnect the battery cable.

Car thief gets in, closes the door, trys to hotwire the car and -- surprise. :D

This article is just a fancy version of the same thing.

[summer]

This is dumb,

annyokie, police said they are winning 100% conviction rates in these cases because of the videotape. (Remember, no one is around except the car thieves and their incrimination conversation, all caught on tape.) It is certainly not a waste of time nor money to get these car thieves off the streets -- and out of real people's car.

[summer]

This is dumb,

annyokie, police said they are winning 100% conviction rates in these cases because of the videotape. (Remember, no one is around except the car thieves and their incriminating conversation, all caught on video tape with audio tape.) It is certainly not a waste of time nor money to get these car thieves off the streets -- and out of real people's car.