Bait & Switch Ottawa Style

[xarir]

I'm here in our nation's capital on biz. Earlier today I was walking through a shopping mall parking lot and I saw a sign that said "Thieves Beware! Car Bait Program in effect here!" So I guess they basically park a car somewhere with lots of stuff in plain view then wait for someone to break and enter then nab the sucker in the act.

While the concept of catching bad guys appeals to me, the setup operation does seem a little odd. I would imagine the bait program would have an effect on lowering snatch & grabs from cars so long as folks know that any car could be a setup. But at the same time it seems a bit of a waste of resources since presumably it's the cops who are waiting around for someone to break into the car.

Does anyone know if car bait programs are in effect anywhere else? If so, any success at lowering thefts?

 

[Hammerstein]

If memory serves me correct the idea is to lower car theft itself not the contents of the car. The cars are trackable so the cops can at their leisure catch the car thief. Pretty sure they had it in Hamilton at limeridge mall for a bit not sure if it is still there.

 

[Dodger]

There was a clip of one from BC on Spike last night. Funny as hell becasue the guy stealing the car gets in then convinces himself that it is a bait car, gets out then gets back in and takes the car. While he is driving he keeps saying to himself that this is a bait car.

Sure enough they finally catch up to him and he bails from the car as it is moving and the video shows the guy running beside the car until it finally comes to a stop.

Oh yeah they got him

 

[CapitalGuy]

Yes I believe Vancouver is the home of the bait car program in North America. Highly, highly successful is my understanding. There are videos available on the various internet video clip sites, as they have cameras mounted inside the car.