Mar 20, 2006 10:32 pm US/Central
'Bait Cars' Helping Reduce Crime In Dallas
by J.D. Miles
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
According to the latest Dallas crime statistics it appears car thieves are taking the bait. Police say auto thefts are down sharply so far this year partially because of 'bait cars'.
It's not just 'bait cars', but also the fear of them that police are using to scare away car thieves.
Nearly 100 people have been arrested since the police department started using 'bait cars' and it's starting to show in crime statistics.
Some of the 94 suspected Dallas car thieves were caught in the act by a camera inside a police 'bait car'.
Once a suspected thief enters the car, the vehicle locks the criminal inside.
Police believe the technique may be responsible for the 14% decrease in auto thefts over the first two months of the year.
"Fourteen percent is a whopping good number and we've got a lot of things I guess we could contribute this to," said Sergeant Gil Cerda, Dallas Police Department.
The department is working with businesses, especially along the Stemmons Freeway Corridor where auto thefts are a continuing problem.
New signs printed in English and Spanish will be posted in parking lots and warnings will also be carried on yellow cabs, in an effort to deter thieves.
"We're pleased with this progress but we need to sustain the effort. This is something, burglaries to motor vehicles and auto thefts, directly undercut economic development, because business owners and their employees want to know that they live in, they work in and potentially live in areas that are safe," said David Neumann, Stemmons Corridor Business Association.
There are 4000 businesses in the Stemmons Corridor and those interested in acquiring signs can contact the business association.
(CBS 11 News)
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