Bait cars to lure Calgary thieves
Calgary is once again trying a bait car program in an attempt to curb vehicle theft, police announced Wednesday.
Police will place high-tech bait cars in neighbourhoods where there are high rates of crime, but Staff Sgt. Colin Adair won't say what type of vehicles will be used or how many.
"Bait vehicles don't entice people," he said. "They are just parked like anybody else. If they choose to steal them, they will be caught."
When stolen, the cars will be tracked through GPS and hidden cameras. Officers can disable the engines with the click of a mouse, allowing nearby police to make an arrest.
| Top 10 stolen vehicles |
| Honda Civic |
| Ford trucks |
| Dodge/Plymouth Neon |
| Dodge/Plymouth vans |
| GMC trucks |
| Chevrolet trucks |
| Dodge trucks |
| Honda Accord |
| Jeep Cherokee |
| Nissan Pathfinder |
Since the beginning of this year, 5,107 vehicles have been stolen in Calgary. Some are recovered, but are often damaged. Others are used for drug activity, hit-and-run incidents, and break and enters.
A similar bait car pilot project was discontinued in 2002 when car thieves compromised the high-tech locking devices. Adair said the system that will be used this time is more sophisticated.
Police also warned drivers Wednesday to take steps to prevent car theft, such as:
- Not leaving keys in running vehicles.
- Locking doors and closing windows.
- Parking in well-lit and well-travelled areas.
- Hiding or removing valuables.
- Using anti-theft devices.