CPS Launches Bait Car Program

[dino_martini]

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20081105/CGY_Bait_Cars_081105/20081105/?hub=CalgaryHome



Calgary police have decided it's time to start using bait cars to cut down on auto thefts.

Here's how it works. The bait vehicle is outfitted with a GPS tacking system and hidden cameras. The car is usually parked in an area where thefts have been a problem. Police are able to monitor the vehicle remotely. Once it's stolen, police are able to track the thief and once they have them in sight, the engine of the car can be turned off with the click of a mouse by a dispatcher.

For years, bait cars have been used successfully by other police departments in Canada and the United States. After four years of using them in Vancouver, the rate of auto theft dropped 35 percent.

But not every police department has had a flawless record with the system. In Dallas, the bait car program was suspended after a stolen bait car crashed into an innocent driver. Police had tried to disable the vehicle but something went wrong with the dispatcher - it took that person 20 seconds to shut the engine off. But that time it was too late; the bait car crashed into another vehicle and killed an 83-year-old woman.

In Winnipeg, the bait program was abandoned after cost and effectiveness were questioned. In Calgary, the bait cars will be paid for by ING Insurance, but in Winnipeg, police had to pick up the bill. That meant there wasn't the budget to switch the cars around and it didn't take thieves long to figure out which cars were bait cars and which ones were not. In fact, in the last year Winnipeg ran the program, police set out 100 bait cars and none of them were stolen.

Calgary police will not reveal what kind of vehicles they will be using as bait cars, or how many will be hitting the streets.

Between January and October of 2008, 5,170 vehicles were stolen in Calgary.

[Redlyne_mr2]

You're going down claw.

[kenny]

Blog Post:
http://www.beyond.ca/bait-car-program-coming-to-calgary/1008.html

Press Release:
http://www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/citybeat/public/2008/11/release.20081105_100759_24109_0

I can't wait to see the videos they post up!

[SilVFan]

I know a guy who works with the police service and helped select some of the bait cars. They have several Hondas, GMCs and a brand new BMW.

[saiyajin]

Originally posted by SilVFan
I know a guy who works with the police service and helped select some of the bait cars. They have several Hondas, GMCs and a brand new BMW.


thanks for keeping it anonymous and unknown...:rolleyes:

[Supa Dexta]

Bout time.. wasn't it 5 or 7000 a yr get stolen?

[dino_martini]

Originally posted by saiyajin



thanks for keeping it anonymous and unknown...:rolleyes:

The second I heard about this program, I knew they would have at least one Honda Civic or Integra or something. The cars are going to be vehicles that are consistently stolen.

Civics, Integras, Diesel Trucks (F-350, F-250, etc).

[Hakkola]

Interesting that they would use a new BMW, due to the ignition system. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like it would be pretty damn hard to steal.

Like it says in the blog, it's about time.

[bspot]

One of the bait cars is a Dolphin Grey 2004-2005 Audi S4.

Note to thieves... do not steal Grey S4's or you are screwed!

:dunno:

[barmanjay]

Sweet!

need one up by my place

someone tried to steal my neighbours black p/u

and the wifes convertible a little while ago!

And 88jbody's car with no engine :rofl:

[CivicDXR]

Originally posted by saiyajin



thanks for keeping it anonymous and unknown...:rolleyes:

it doesn't matter if he said what they were, last time you were on the roads, how many Honda, GMCs, and BMWs did you see? They are using common cars...

[1Chin3seBoi]

finally!!:thumbsup: :clap:

cant wait for them to film it and show in on tv too!

[BlackArcher101]

Does anyone know if they worked well in Edmonton?

[ae92gts]

So excited, cant wait for the videos to be on youtube!!!!:thumbsup:
they should park the bait cars at the LRT stations, they will get a few there for sure

[Ukyo8]

Finally!

[ae92gts]

oh ya btw :repost:

[revelations]

Good idea, but unless the judges come down hard on these repeat nubtards, nothing will get accomplished.

What will happen is that the CPS will end up arresting the same 2 or 3 idiots 25 times and they will be released 24 times on a PTA.

The 25th time the jerkoff might do something that actually catches the attention of the media and the courts and under public pressure the judges clue in and finally keep these yahoos behind bars.

This program was used in Surrey a number of years ago and it highlighted what the RCMP were trying to get across, the justice system is too liberal.

[SHO]

The car bait program needs to be changed to reflect the following if it is to work.

1. Person steels car.
2. Person drives around until police locate vehicle and call in for a shut down of the vehicle.
3. Car shut off, doors of vehicle locks and windows close.
4. Mustard gas or something more painfull fills cabin of vehicle rendering occupent dead.
5. Police unlock car and insure occupent is dead, call local morgue and ship corpse to get cremated immediatly.
6. Persons file ie social security deleted and all records disposed of. Any cash at banks of perp. goes to local police force.

[dino_martini]

Originally posted by ae92gts
oh ya btw :repost:

Where? link?

[badatusrnames]

Originally posted by bspot
One of the bait cars is a Dolphin Grey 2004-2005 Audi S4.

Note to thieves... do not steal Grey S4's or you are screwed!

:dunno:

I see what you did there...

[luxor]

Originally posted by SilVFan
I know a guy who works with the police service and helped select some of the bait cars. They have several Hondas, GMCs and a brand new BMW.

:facepalm:

You're a gullible fool.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

anyways...

Date: Wed Nov 5 10:07:59 2008
Subject: PA/MRU #08-562 BAIT CAR PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN CALGARY
From: Martin Kemp

-----BEGIN MD5 -----------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------
CITYBEAT - CITY OF CALGARY PRESS RELEASE
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Auto thieves beware -- bait cars are coming to Calgary.

The Calgary Police Service is working to combat vehicle theft
in Calgary, which has increased significantly in recent
years.

Between Jan. 1, 2008 and Oct. 31, 2008, 5170 vehicles were
stolen in Calgary. A total of 6484 vehicles were stolen in
2007, 5981 in 2006 and 4068 in 2005.

Many stolen vehicles are recovered, but they are often
damaged.

In addition to costing millions of dollars every year, auto
theft is regularly linked to other criminal activity. Stolen
vehicles are often involved in robberies, break-ins, hit-and
-run collisions, drug activity and other crimes.

The Calgary Police Service has developed a strategic plan to
address this growing program, utilizing a combination of
education, awareness, prevention and enforcement.

After researching bait car programs in other jurisdictions,
the CPS is now implementing its own program.

A bait car is a vehicle used by police to capture car
thieves. Each vehicle is specially modified with such
features as GPS tracking and hidden cameras that record
audio, video, time and date; all of which can be remotely
monitored.

When a bait car is stolen, its location, speed and direction
of travel are monitored by a police dispatcher at Public
Safety Communications.

The dispatcher will then co-ordinate the police response.
Once officers are in position to safely apprehend the bait
car and driver, the engine will be disabled at the click of a
mouse button, which allows for the quick arrest of the car
thieves.

Bait cars will be stationed at various locations throughout
Calgary, determined by vehicle theft and property crime
trends.

Police will not be disclosing what types of vehicles are
being used, or how many are in the bait car fleet. Vehicles
are being provided by ING Insurance, and will be rotated
through the fleet as needed.

While there is an important enforcement aspect to the bait
car program, there is also a vital education and awareness
component.

The CPS Bait Car Program is intended to raise awareness of
the auto theft problem in Calgary, educate the public about
the steps people can take to help prevent thefts and inform
the criminal element that police are actively combating the
auto theft problem.

The Calgary Police Service has partnered with the Alberta
Motor Association (AMA) on an educational campaign to
increase awareness on bait cars and vehicle theft. The AMA
is running billboards in several locations throughout Calgary
introducing the Bait Car Program.

In addition to the Bait Car Program, the CPS targets auto
theft through the High Enforcement Auto Theft Team (HEATT),
which HEATT works closely with district personal to
specifically target suspected offenders and high auto theft
areas of the city, as well as through the efforts of
frontline officers.

It is important to note that vehicle owners should take
precautions to decrease the chance of auto theft. There are
several steps people can take:

- Do not leave a vehicle running with the keys in it, even
with the doors locked. Approximately 40 per cent of stolen
vehicles recovered by the Calgary Police Service are found
with the keys inside.

- Always close the windows, lock the doors and pocket the
key.

- Park in well-lit and well-traveled areas.

- Hide valuables out of sight or take them with you.

- Use auto-theft measures such as a steering wheel lock, a
vehicle immobilizer system or alarm system.

- Report suspicious activity. If you see suspicious people in
or around motor vehicles, call the police.

http://www.gov.calgary.ab.ca/citybeat/public/2008/11/release.20081105_100759_24109_0


:thumbsup:

[bignerd]

Theres some show on A&E called "jacked" and they use a baitcar. It is a black Audi A4. They leave it running on the street like someone ran in their house or a store to grab something. Always amazes me the people that fall for it.

Gee, nice Audi, running, unlocked, with the keys in it. Too good to be true? Yep, but will steal it and think I'm smart for a few minutes anyhow.

[Isaiah]

Originally posted by bspot
One of the bait cars is a Dolphin Grey 2004-2005 Audi S4.

Note to thieves... do not steal Grey S4's or you are screwed!

:dunno:

They got a black one too. Probably best to stay away from S4's altogether just in case.

[Supa Dexta]

It would be fun to make your own, a youtube series. Be able to lock it from the key fob, and not be able to get out of the car once inside, without it being unlocked from the outside. It would be like live trapping animals, catch one and get the animal control (popo) to come get them.. :rofl:

[v2kai]

they need a car stereo bait car to single out that stereo thieving bastards:guns:

[FilthyMcNasty]

ya what they should do is have a bait stereo with hidden GPS in the stereo. The dude steals the stereo then takes it back to his hideout of stolen goods. Police track it down and make a huge bust of stolen property! Good idea!!

[SilVFan]

Originally posted by FilthyMcNasty
ya what they should do is have a bait stereo with hidden GPS in the stereo. The dude steals the stereo then takes it back to his hideout of stolen goods. Police track it down and make a huge bust of stolen property! Good idea!!

Patent that idea. You could make millions. Lets go into business????

[sexualbanana]

Originally posted by saiyajin



thanks for keeping it anonymous and unknown...:rolleyes:

Because there are so few Hondas, Fords, and BMWs in this city....

[Kloubek]

It's about time. I hope this program works!

[phunx]

Originally posted by SHO
The car bait program needs to be changed to reflect the following if it is to work.

1. Person steels car.
2. Person drives around until police locate vehicle and call in for a shut down of the vehicle.
3. Car shut off, doors of vehicle locks and windows close.
4. Mustard gas or something more painfull fills cabin of vehicle rendering occupent dead.
5. Police unlock car and insure occupent is dead, call local morgue and ship corpse to get cremated immediatly.
6. Persons file ie social security deleted and all records disposed of. Any cash at banks of perp. goes to local police force.

4. Snakes?

[redbeast]

Good, about time this city did something like this. Will probably prevent dumb idiots like the Buckthorn Drive or Blackthorn drive accident where 14-16 year old got killed a couple of weeks ago.

Then again I hope more kids learn the hard way.