Hopefully, this will catch a few theiving bar stewards

[BO55 VXR]

Sussex Police are going to use "bait cars"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/so

What's the betting the little toe rags will cry Entrapment.

[Globulator]

I think they are doing this in CAMBS too, it's a brilliant idea. I know these scum don't steal license points like scamera vans but the damage to property involved in the theft is often significant.

Police leaving off the tax paying middle classes and catching criminals: this is what we want to see!

[hedders]

i agree with the initiative but what is the point when the sort of people breaking into cars are likley to just get cautioned about breaking thier asbo's.

we need to actually punish those who are caught, maybe make THEM pay for the expense of the operation.

i know i know, i am preaching to the choir.

[chrispy porker]

Every force does it. Works well.

[timberwolf]

I thought this was a brilliant idea the first time I saw it mentioned.

Firstly, car thieves get caught red-handed with rock solid evidence. Secondly, if for some reason something valuable gets left on display in my car (usually giving someone a lift and they decide to leave mobile/iPod/whatever on the seat, console or door bin) then the would-be thief doesn't know whether it's a normal private car or a waiting trap.

[DarrenW]

Merseyside Police employed vehicles known as "rat traps" about 15 years ago. My Dad was involved with them, he was a TrafPol at the time. I remember one being a grey metallic Mk4 Ford Escort XR3i, and they were parked up with the keys in IIRC. The engine would cut out and modified central locking would activate when the car had been driven a very short distance, and lock the thieves in. They were called "rat traps" because of the (apparently) amusing way in which the thieves would panic and try to escape, only to find that windows/doors wouldn't open.

I've got some photos of one somewhere, from a trip to see him at work as a kid, should scan them in really!

[madleee]

These rat traps could do to fill with poison gas too.
Caught, tried and executed in one swift move.

[shuvitupya]

This is old news.

Police have been doing this for 10 years at least.

[jasandjules]

TV Shows have been doing it longer !!

[grumbledoak]

BO55 VXR said:

What's the betting the little toe rags will cry Entrapment.

Been done for ages; quite effective.

And Entrapment doesn't mean what you think it does -
Entrapment is if the officer does something that changes your existing action from legal to illegal, like tossing a coin at a street musician, then nicking him for busking...

[AL666]

madleee said:

These rat traps could do to fill with poison gas too.
Caught, tried and executed in one swift move.

Agreed.

And maybe fill a few old bangers with napalm and as soon as a group of chavs decide to nick it for a joyride, it engulfs them in flames Then we'd see how funny they think it is to burn-out cars.

[MilnerR]

Can't see how leaving a legally parked car on the street and then keeping an eye on it is entrapment.


Although it would be good if the doors locked automatically and the cabin was evacuated of oxygen.....

[shouldbworking]

Doing this with houses now in Somerset!

[jasandjules]

The law says

It is not acceptable that the state through its agents should lure its citizens into committing an act forbidden by law then prosecuting them for it

The yardstick is

Did the police do no more than present the defendant with an unexceptional opportunity to commit a crime? If so, then no entrapment occurs as the crime was not committed artificially, but each case can turn on its facts. Bear in mind S78 (PACE) can allow the court to discount/exclude evidence obtained by entrapment.