Bait Car

[JFriday]

Anyone watching this? It's pretty amusing. Sheriffs dept leaves nice car in shady area running. Within minutes idiot theif or theives get in and take off. Hidden camera's capture their conversations as they cruise around. Car is tracked via GPS and the Sheriffs pull up on car a remotely disable the car and also lock the doors so the theives can't get out. When arrested they always come up with the dumbest lies to justify why they are in the car.

[janry]

I saw a little of it the other day. Didn't know what the show was. I was just channel surfing. I guess it is the same thing you are talking about. They were using a white Escalade as the bait car. Two women caught claimed some other woman had given them the car. Nobody ever gave me a Cadillac.

Then, two teens took it and said they didn't know how to drive so they were going to get out anyway when the cops stopped them.

[JFriday]

Yea that's it, they use an Escalade and I think a Lexus.

[Amnesia]

Isn't that entrapment?

[nirisahn]

Isn't that entrapment?My thought exactly. Plus, in a situation like that, some dumb kid might get it into his/her head to go joy riding when any other time they wouldn't even think of doing something that stupid.

[JFriday]

My thought exactly. Plus, in a situation like that, some dumb kid might get it into his/her head to go joy riding when any other time they wouldn't even think of doing something that stupid.

Yes it's usually dumb kids, and they are not sweet and innocent dumb kids. Most have criminal records. They are dumb but very street smart.

[JFriday]

What channel is this on?

I don't know I have tivo.

[TiVo'Brien]

Isn't that entrapment?Only if the cop pushes the kid into the car.

[Amnesia]

My thought exactly. Plus, in a situation like that, some dumb kid might get it into his/her head to go joy riding when any other time they wouldn't even think of doing something that stupid.According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_car):
Although laws are regional, the practice of deploying bait vehicles is not considered entrapment, since suspects are not persuaded to steal the vehicle by any means other than its availability and their own motivation.

[nataylor]

Isn't that entrapment?

Nope. Entrapment is inducing (not merely enticing) a person to commit a crime they otherwise would not.

[scooterboy]

According to my guide, it's on a channel called TruTV on 9/14.

[mattack]

I don't know I have tivo.

I realize someone already posted more info, but jeez, even if you don't search upcoming info, your Tivo will tell you what channel it recorded an existing recording you have on..

[omnibus]

I loved the moron who asked the cop with a straight face whether he, the cop thought he, the moron was stealing the car.

The cops answer "you were stealing the car"

another cretin said he had just got out....cop: "for what", cretin: "stealing cars"

[marrone]

I've seen this a long time ago, on a news program. I always wondered if they kept doing it. Kinda suprising there's a series about it (or is it just a one-time special?). Either way, I'll check it out, hopefully I can see it.

I don't see how this is entrapment. No-one's goading the thief to steal the car. I see cars running all the time by people too dumb to shut it off while spending 1min in the store. Doesn't mean I can drive off with it...it isn't my car!

I always thought this was a great idea, and that it should be done all across the country. Once word got out onto the street that cops were doing this, I bet car thefts would go way down.

This reminds me of a similar stunt they pulled in NYC a long time ago. They had a team of cops (sting operation, maybe? Dunno if that's the correct term) that pretended to be easy victims (bums, professionals with their wallets easily accessible, etc) in subway stations. They waited for crooks to come pick their pockets. Obviously there were other cops (plainclothed) nearby, with cameras, etc. Cool idea.

I think they caught fire when come of the undercover cops were caught "goading" the thieves into stealing from the mark..."Hey, that's a nice ring she's wearing...looks like it's about to slip off her finger", etc.

I have mixed feelings on that. On one hand, the thief might not have "noticed" or thought about committing the crime. On the other hand, he still did it, and certainly wasn't forced into it.

I don't know if they ever continued that operation, but I liked the idea of it.

-Mike

[JFriday]

I realize someone already posted more info, but jeez, even if you don't search upcoming info, your Tivo will tell you what channel it recorded an existing recording you have on..

Yea and typing "bait car" into google would have taken less time than typing the question he did and gotten the answer alot quicker.

[nmiller855]

I had watched this show before so I typed the name into the search feature. Nothing came up. Then I saw that someone posted it wasn't on again until September 14th & my guide info only goes to September 13th at this time. Maybe this is why the question was asked about what channel, because it doesn't show up in his guide info yet.

[mrmike]

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_car):
Although laws are regional, the practice of deploying bait vehicles is not considered entrapment, since suspects are not persuaded to steal the vehicle by any means other than its availability and their own motivation.


It would seem like the "attractive nuisance" sorts of laws that they put into place for pools and the like might have some applicability but apparently they don't.

[marrone]

I had watched this show before so I typed the name into the search feature. Nothing came up. Then I saw that someone posted it wasn't on again until September 14th & my guide info only goes to September 13th at this time. Maybe this is why the question was asked about what channel, because it doesn't show up in his guide info yet.
Good to know. I typed it in and it didn't come up either. I'll try to remember that again.
(I suppose I could set a wish list...I keep forgetting I can do that)
-Mike

[Craigbob]

I was at Universal City Walk in L.A. a couple of weeks ago and as you pull into the parking structure there is a sign telling would be thieves that they use bait cars in the lot. Pretty interesting IMO. Haven't seen the show but I might check it out.

[MickeS]

I was at Universal City Walk in L.A. a couple of weeks ago and as you pull into the parking structure there is a sign telling would be thieves that they use bait cars in the lot. Pretty interesting IMO. Haven't seen the show but I might check it out.

Where can I buy one of those signs for my neighborhood? :)

This sounds like a show that's almost worth getting cable for. :D

[JFriday]

I was at Universal City Walk in L.A. a couple of weeks ago and as you pull into the parking structure there is a sign telling would be thieves that they use bait cars in the lot. Pretty interesting IMO. Haven't seen the show but I might check it out.

When I was a teenager my best friends family car was stolen from the Universal parking lot. They had spent a week in SoCal and they had everything packed in the car as the were going to drive home after a day at Universal. They lost everything.

[billboard_NE]

I thought it was against the law to leave a car unsecured with the keys in it? What if one of these kids hit someone with the bait car? I know if I left my car in my driveway running and some neighborhood kid took it, the police would be asking me a few questions "downtown".

[nataylor]

Even if that were true (not sure it is), it doesn't make it any less illegal for someone to steal the car.

[MikeMar]

Saw a show years ago, forget which, but they setup a bait truck that was easily opened and tons of stereo stuff in it, caught a lot of people trying to rob it AT A STOP LIGHT, not even parked!

[BWINKLER92]

I like this show, but why not kill the engine when at a stop sign or light? They always do it on the open road where yes there could be a collision. I am surprised they can't apply say the emergency brake too when the kill is done so car can't roll into someone as the driver tries to escape.

I also wonder why more crooks don't just check for valuables in the car, why not leave a wallet so you would have an additional charge to file when they'd have that on them too? More jail time is good good good.

[tiassa]

If you like this, There is another show called "Jacked" on Speed and "Crime and Investigation" network, it follows the Essex County (NJ --Hoboken, Jersey City and environs) Auto Theft Task Force, They have specially equipped SUV's and Pick up trucks, and go around and tracking stolen cars and arresting the thives. They used a Bait car in one episode and a good Samaritan actually called the city cops (not the ATTF) and reported it, it was kind of funny when the local cops showed up and the ATTF had to go over and explain it. They then moved the Bait car to another location.

[RonDawg]

Yes it's usually dumb kids, and they are not sweet and innocent dumb kids. Most have criminal records. They are dumb but very street smart.

I caught this for the first time tonight. It's part reality show, part comedy.

I wouldn't even call many of these folks "street smart." Bait cars have been around for many years, so you'd think more criminals would be aware of them, yet a surprising number still fall for it.

[janry]

It's an entertaining show. I got a kick out of the mother who loaded up to drive the bait car home wth her 2 children after a shopping trip. Just using it as a ride home. The daughter goes "we're in a stolen car" as they head out. Way to teach your children!

Some of these people seem like real career criminals and it would seem best to follow them a bit further to see where they take the cars to see if there is a chop shop in their future. Instead the cops seem to shut them all down pretty quickly.

[RonDawg]

Some of these people seem like real career criminals and it would seem best to follow them a bit further to see where they take the cars to see if there is a chop shop in their future. Instead the cops seem to shut them all down pretty quickly.

A big reason for it is liability. Several that I saw on last night's episodes "drove it like they stole it." The departments involved would be looking at pretty hefty civil penalties if someone were to get hurt as a result, so they shut them down as soon as arrest teams are in position.

[janry]

A big reason for it is liability. Several that I saw on last night's episodes "drove it like they stole it."

I haven't watched the latest episodes yet. But the one's I've seen, the thieves seemed to be driving normally.

[scooterboy]

Did anyone catch the episode in which the thief in the passenger seat couldn't keep his hand from rubbing his crotch the entire time? At times he looked like he was masturbating while they were driving around.

Weird.

[crowfan]

I saw that one. I think they explained it later in the episode - he was hiding drugs down there.

[ct1]

This might be going too far...

http://current.com/items/90535994_police-bait-car-catches-good-samaritan.htm

Police Bait Car Catches "Good Samaritan"

When Mark Douglas Ledford came home on Nov. 29, 2007, to find a strange green Honda Accord parked near his house with the windows rolled down and the keys in the ignition, he suspected trouble.

Who had left the car there, and why? What if something strange was going on? Shouldn't the police investigate?

Soon after, those questions got answered. But instead of helping uncover a crime, Ledford and then-girlfriend Asia Ward found themselves arrested and accused of one.
[...]

[RonDawg]

He's jimmying a lock with a screwdriver (while wearing gloves no less) and he wonders why he got arrested?

Sorry but the whole story sounds like BS to me. If he had issues about the way the two officers who responded did their job, he could have phoned their Watch Commander or made a complaint via his City Council.

[nataylor]

Burglary charges were dropped. He pled to a deferred disposition for criminal mischief.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/10/15/1015baitcar.html