Bait Car
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Bait Car (noun);
A bait car, or decoy car, is a program in effect by law enforcement to catch auto thieves. These bait cars are equipped with high tech gadgetry such as a GPS tracking system, audio and video recording (typically with cameras in the center of the dash board and in the rear view mirrors) and remote immobilizer. This immobilizer, referred to as a 'kill switch' within the law enforcement industry, allows the police to remotely disable the engine and lock all the car doors preventing the car thief from escaping.
The bait car trap is set up using different techniques in areas with a high rate of auto theft. One method is to leave valuable items in the car to catch the eye of potential car thieves. Another is to stage a traffic stop, the undercover police officer gets arrested, leaving the car. Yet another is to stage an incident where two undercover police officers are involved in an argument, getting out of the car and leaving in another car. Most times the keys are left in either the ignition, on the seat or on the roof of the car. The police monitor every bit of activity from a door opening to the ignition being started. Police use the cameras not only to capture the face of the auto thief in the act, but to determine how many suspects are in the car, whether they are armed and what they are planning.
The question has come up often of whether it is legal to use a bait car or if it is entrapment. Laws vary by region, but for the most part, if a car is left and monitored with no coercing it can not be considered entrapment. The main determining factor of whether police are using a bait car legally is if they leave it in normal circumstances, such as parked normally, not somewhat in the street with the door open which may tempt a person who normally wouldn't commit a crime.
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