BaitCar.com

Bait Car Program Now Includes Theft From Vehicles

Bait Car — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:14:09 +0000

We've all probably done it - hidden a purse or wallet in the car, while you've taken the dog for a walk, hoping car thieves aren't active in that park. Or left a purchase in the backseat, while you ran into another store. Or, perhaps you've left your tools in your work van overnight, waking up at 5am to find the window smashed, and your livelihood suddenly gone.

Police have a new way to deter thieves and help protect vehicle owners. BC’s Bait Car Program now includes 'bait property.' The Bait Car Program, run by the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT), is recognized as the largest of its kind in the world. Since IMPACT beganoperating in 2003, auto theft in BC is down 73%.

“The IMPACT program has been wildly successfully over the last ten years, with a 73 per cent reduction in auto theft since the introduction of bait cars. I am very proud of the dedicated team of officers and the work they do. I am confident that the bait property program will be equally as successful as our bait vehicle program,” said Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

This February, as in past years, IMPACT is celebrating Auto Crime Enforcement month in BC, by releasing its list of top ten car thieves. That list now includes thieves who’ve stolen from vehicles. And this year if thieves do break into a bait vehicle, and steal property, police will be tracking and monitoring that property, leading them straight to the thief.

Since IMPACT began releasing it annual Top Ten list, 85 of the 90 top ten car thieves have been apprehended.

“Thieves already know, that if they steal a bait car, they’ll go to jail,” says RCMP Inspector Gary Shinkaruk, of the integrated IMPACT team. “With the kind of evidence we're able to put before judges, the program has been tremendously successful at putting car thieves behind bars. But there’s a new message we need to get out to thieves now – steal FROM a bait car, go to jail.”

The shift in focus from IMPACT comes as police analyzed statistics from 2012. In the last four months of the year, police across BC identified a slight increase in thefts from vehicles compared to previous years. Bait vehicles throughout BC have now been upgraded with the latest audio and video technology to address the issue of theft from vehicles. Bait property will look no different than any other property thieves may find in vehicles, and may range from tool boxes to a gym bag. The difference is it can be tracked and monitored by police.

“Our customers have done an excellent job of helping police reduce auto crime by using anti-theft devices. However, thieves are constantly looking for any opportunity so we're reminding customers to remain vigilant in protecting themselves from auto crime,” said Jill Blacklock, ICBC's road safety delivery manager.

IMPACT is also releasing the list of top ten items stolen from vehicles. They are: smartphones, personal electronics, such as laptops, work tools, credit cards and ID, stereo equipment, cash and change, car parts, garage door openers, sunglasses and keys.

Thieves who break into a bait vehicle to steal property will be seen live on video at E-Comm-9-1-1, the regional emergency communications centre for southwest British Columbia. E-Comm 9-1-1 monitors all bait cars in British Columbia, 24/7 on behalf of participating police.

Top Ten lists and video are at www.baitcar.com, including:

Top Ten list of car thieves
Top Ten stolen vehicles in BC by region
Top Ten ways to protect your belongings

Footage of alleged thieves stealing from a bait car, or a video of E-Comm tracking stolen bait property is available for media at www.sendtonews.com

Sgt. Peter Thiessen
Senior Media Relations Officer
BC RCMP Communication Services
Lower Mainland District RCMP

#200-7485 130 St.
Surrey BC V3W 2V6

Office: 604-598-4274
Cel: 604-614-6177

Follow Sgt Thiessen on Twitter @lmdrcmp
www.bc.rcmp.ca

Four of Top 10 Wanted Car Thieves Arrested

administrator — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 21:04:41 +0000

Four of the Top 10 Wanted Car Thieves have been arrested and two of them couldn’t take the stress of being on the list and turned themselves in.

On March 15th, 43 year old Mark Winston Berry turned himself in on his warrants to the Surrey Provincial courthouse.

On March 15th, 34 year old Kevin Michael Beech was arrested in Whalley by IMPACT, The Surrey Auto Crime Target Team and the Surrey RCMP Neighbourhood Liaison Unit.

On March 22nd, 42 year old Todd Joseph Savoie turned himself in on his warrants to the Surrey Provincial courthouse.

On March 24th, 32 year old Million Gerbe Radia was arrested at the Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam after security staff recognized him from the published Top 10 Wanted list.

We are once again asking the public to call their local police if they know the whereabouts of any of the six remaining wanted car thieves or to call Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous.

Top 10 Wanted Car Thief Arrested

administrator — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:05:31 +0000

Not even a bad hair dye job could prevent an IMPACT Top 10 Wanted Car Thief from being arrested yesterday in Surrey.

Early last evening police were actively scouting out areas frequented by 34 year old Kevin Michael Beech who was named a week ago as one of IMPACT’s Top 10 Wanted Car Thieves. Police officers from IMPACT, the Surrey RCMP Auto Crime Target Team, the Surrey RCMP Neighbourhood Liaison Unit and the Air One helicopter teamed up and located Beech driving a vehicle with two other male passengers in the Whalley area. With Air One’s extra eyes in the sky, the vehicle’s movements were tracked for a short while before police moved in for the
arrest. Kevin Beech ran from police but was quickly apprehended without incident at about 7:00 P.M..

Beech had dyed his hair to change his appearance after his photo was released to the media but to no avail. He was wanted by both Richmond and Langley RCMP for Break, Enter and Theft, Possession of Stolen Property x2, Possession of a Controlled Substance x2, and Driving While Prohibited.

He was the first Top 10 Wanted Car Wanted Thief arrested on this year’s list and we are asking the public for their assistance in locating the remaining nine. If anyone has information on the whereabouts of those remaining on the list, they are asked to call their local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) if they wish to remain anonymous.

Bait Car - Censored Montage

Bait Car — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:41:17 +0000

Bait Car Program Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Bait Car — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:38:47 +0000

March 8th, 2012

Hundreds of car thieves who have been arrested in Bait Cars probably won’t be joining the police and public in celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Bait Car Program in British Columbia.

The first Bait Car Program was launched in 2002 by the Vancouver Police Department in response to a growing auto theft problem at the time. When auto theft statistics peaked in 2003, the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT) was formed and followed suit, developing an even larger program to cover the entire province. In addition to being deployed on the streets of your city or town, Bait Cars have worked around the Pacific National Exhibition, at the World Police and Fire Games and even kept your vehicles and belongings safe when you parked to attend an event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Cars and trucks were the first ‘bait’ to hit the streets, but over the years the bait fleet has been expanded to include ATV’s, snowmobiles, various watercraft, motorcycles and manufactured trailers.

Today, IMPACT has expanded the Bait fleet even further with the announcement of the addition of commercial vehicles which includes construction equipment and working commercial vans. These latest additions are in response to an ongoing commercial vehicle theft problem and should reduce the victimization of people who rely on these vehicles for their livelihood. “Our Bait Car Program is a recognized leader among jurisdictions, and I am very proud of the dramatic decline in auto crime we’ve achieved over the past ten years. We’ve actually caught 77 of the 80 most wanted car thieves in that time,” said Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond. “Adding commercial vehicles to the fleet is our latest strategy to keep current with auto crime trends and to protect not just B.C. families’ property but also their livelihood.”

ICBC provides funding for IMPACT through the Province of B.C.’s Police Services Division. With the continued generous support from ICBC, police and the Province of B.C., the Bait Car strategy, in part, has had a dramatic effect on auto crime rates here in our province. “ICBC invests in auto crime prevention because it’s the right thing to do - safer roads and less crime help make our communities safer,” said Fiona Temple, ICBC director road safety. “Every theft we prevent also prevents someone from being a victim of crime. Anyone who has been victimized by a car thief knows too well that it is much more than an inconvenience.” Auto theft has been reduced 71% over the past eight years and thefts from vehicles have been reduced 64% over that same eight year period. Our message has been consistently clear – ‘Steal a Bait Car – Go to Jail’.

It’s hard to believe that ten short years ago the Bait Car program was a diamond in the rough, and today we are celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the largest Bait Car Program in the world!

I don't think it's a Baitcar

administrator — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:48:52 +0000

These two young car thieves can’t decide whether or not the truck they are stealing is a Bait Car or not. Well, they guessed wrong.

After searching the truck and finding some goodies, they start driving around but quickly realize that they don’t have much gas. They go home to one of the boys houses to get a pump so they can steal gas but shortly after they leave the house, the police move in and their night is over.

Don’t forget, Bait Cars come in all different makes, models and sizes and you’ll never know if it is a Bait Car until it’s too late.

‘It’s a F _ _ _ ing Bait Car You Idiot’

administrator — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:06:45 +0000

It won’t take long before you figure out that these two car thieves aren’t brain surgeons. One of them steals a bait truck but his buddy wants to drive. That is fine as the first guy slides over into the passenger seat and all he wants to do is smoke his crack cocaine anyways while the other guy takes the wheel. It doesn’t take long before the police close in but the driver decides he wants to make a run for it. That was a poor plan though as the police cut the engine and this duo was sent directly to jail.

You Might Wanna Get That Rig Outta Your Mouth

Bait Car — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:35:48 +0000

OK, this guy just might be the dumbest bait car thief ever.

Three suspects hop into the freshly stolen bait car and they are all worried about being 'legal' so the police won't have a reason to stop and check them. So they all put on their seatbelts like law-abiding citizens but it seems that the driver overlooked one small detail. He starts driving with a heroin needle (a rig) hanging from his mouth. Luckily, the female passenger notices and tells him 'you might wanna get that rig outta your mouth' but not so luckily for them, they stole a bait car.

As you will see, their luck runs out when the police cars and police dog arrive on scene.

Remember our slogan - "Steal a Bait Car. Go to Jail"

It Has Some Sick Rims In The Back

Bait Car — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:33:54 +0000

These two guys think they hit the jackpot when they steal this Bait Truck with a spare set of 'sick rims' in the box.

One guy steals the Bait Truck and his buddy follows in another stolen car. The suspect in the Bait Truck eventually spots the police and heads for a little off-roading to try and get away. He jumps out of the truck while it is still moving and runs but doesn't get very far before the police throw the wrist bracelets on him.

Busted!

Bait Trailers Are Everywhere

Bait Car — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 17:50:44 +0000

Just when thieves thought they had found another way to rip off the public by stealing trailers and selling them privately through ads and on internet sites, the Integrated Municipal Provincial Auto Crime Team (IMPACT) launched Bait Trailers as part of their Bait fleet.

A host of different types of trailers are now armed with hidden GPS technology and will be planted throughout British Columbia just waiting to be stolen. They will look just like any other trailer and will come in many makes, models, sizes and colours.

This is a video of the very first Bait Trailer arrest. Not only were the suspects being monitored by GPS, the Air One helicopter with infrared cameras was tracking them from the sky.

Steal a Trailer -- You'll Go See the Jailer!

The Radio Jumper

administrator — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 01:13:05 +0000

It is a Friday night and all this suspect wants to do is steal a Bait Car, sing along to the radio, and then leap from a moving vehicle. What more could a car thief need to make a night of it? The police know a good way to end an evening, he should have asked them. It is sad. His voice isn't half bad. Too bad he throws away his music career while racing around residential streets at high speed and endangering people around him.

The Shaker

administrator — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 05:00:00 +0000

Every year, we make a list of the Top 10 Fears of Car Thieves. Each year we do this, we find the number one fear of the typical car thief is the police dog. Last year, we reminded you that the number one fear of car thieves is still the police dog. In this video, you'll see what we mean. Watch the passengers of this Bait Car right after they hear the police dog. This is the reality of what this type of fear can do to those caught in a Bait Car. Remember, steal a car, get chewed!

The Driving Lesson

administrator — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:56:13 +0000

A few guys decide to get together and take revenge upon another group of guys they don't really know. The problem is, they let the rookie drive. They have to give him instruction on how to get away. But wait, it turns out he is a defensive driver! As their night progresses, we see how the bond between each of them is thin and is ready to break even before the police show up.

B.C. Auto Theft Rates Drop for a Eighth Consecutive Year

Bait Car — Wed, 02 May 2007 04:00:00 +0000

Auto theft incidents in 2011 dropped an amazing 20% province-wide compared with the same period last year.

In spite of increases in population and vehicles, auto theft has decreased by 71% in the province over the past eight years. Other factors contributing to the decrease are the higher priority of auto theft to police and the public, targeting of prolific offenders by many jurisdictions, increased use of anti theft devices, and improved court sentencing. Auto theft and vehicle break-in statistics by region are available for viewing by clicking here.

The Four Pillars of Auto Theft Reduction

Bait Car — Tue, 01 May 2007 20:24:03 +0000

IMPACT investigators arrest a repeat offender car thief. This video shows IMPACT and Surrey RCMP Auto Theft Section investigators arresting two car thieves in a stolen car and inside a bank. The two were spotted by Surrey Crimewatch volunteers as they drove a stolen Honda Civic through the Newton area of Surrey. When plainclothes investigators took over the surveillance, the stolen car was followed until it stopped in a shopping centre. The driver got out and walked inside a bank while the passenger remained in the car. Both suspects were arrested at the same time.

The suspect inside the bank fought back aggressively with officers in front of a dozen wide-eyed bank customers. By the time the camera arrived to film this arrest, the prolonged struggle had ended seconds earlier which explains why the officers appear winded. This suspect was found to be carrying a replica pistol in his waistband at the time of his arrest. It is not known what his intentions were inside the bank.

One of the two suspects was an escaped inmate from a provincial institution. Both are in their teens and are repeat offenders. Due to enforcement action like the arrests shown in this video, auto theft in British Columbia dropped significantly for the eighth year in a row. In 2011, auto theft was driven down by 20% across the province.

These reductions can be attributed to four major initiatives that all work together to reduce auto theft. At IMPACT, we call them the four pillars of auto theft reduction:

Education: The public needs to be informed about the seriousness and danger of auto theft. They also need to know how to protect their vehicles from theft. Further initiatives are underway such as the Stolen Lives video which will be released in the fall of 2007 and shown to high school students in an effort to fully inform them about the dangers of auto theft. (http://www.oddsquad.com/)

Prevention: Advertising for the bait car program works to prevent car thefts before they happen. In addition, community volunteers and other groups work hard to patrol high auto theft areas and act as additional eyes and ears for the police. The Combat Auto Theft program, Citizens Crime Watch, ICBC initiatives and other programs all work together to prevent car thefts.

Enforcement: Plainclothes police officers in dedicated auto theft sections target and arrest high risk offenders every day. The video attached to this blog entry shows IMPACT and Surrey RCMP Auto Theft investigators following a stolen Honda Civic and arresting the two occupants. This scenario is typical of an auto theft arrest. In addition, the Bait Car program results in even more arrests.

Treatment: Since most repeat offender car thieves are addicted to hard drugs, the only long-term solution for them is treatment. In most cases, this can only be achieved during longer jail sentences. On average, repeat offender car thieves are receiving six months in jail for auto theft convictions.

These four pillars of auto theft prevention all work together to reduce auto theft. After a decade of rising auto theft rates that peaked in 2003, auto theft has dropped for the eighth year in a row.

Wikipedia.org Defines Term "Bait Car"

Bait Car — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 07:00:00 +0000

The well known on line information web site, Wikipedia.org, has added a definition of "bait car" and uses BaitCar.com as a demonstration of bait cars in action.

A bait car is a generic term used for a vehicle that has been rigged by a law enforcement agency with the intent of capturing car thieves. Special features include bullet-proof glass; automatic door locks; video cameras that record audio, time, and date; and the ability to disable the engine remotely. The practice does not violate entrapment laws, since the suspect is not persuaded to steal the vehicle by any means other than their own motivation. The bait car is a phenomenon in the study of criminal behavior since it offers a rare glimpse into the actions and reactions of a suspect before, during and after the crime. Unlike other crimes caught on surveillance cameras, suspects at least initially believe and react as if the crime has been successful, until the bait car is retrieved.

BaitCar.com Profiled On CNN

Bait Car — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 16:47:18 +0000

BaitCar.com was profiled by Jacki Schechner - CNN's internet reporter - on Wolf Blitzer's "The Situation Room".

Police dog Nitro killed chasing car thieves

Bait Car — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 06:00:52 +0000

For the past seven years, Vancouver Police Constable Howard Rutter has worked with a very loyal partner, Police Service Dog (Badge #9755) Nitro. A bond existed between the two partners built on mutual trust and respect, and the knowledge that they would always look out for one another. It was a bond so strong and lasting that only death could break it. "He was not only my partner, he was my best friend," Cst. Rutter points out. Sadly, on the night of January 23, 2006, Nitro died in the line of duty, doing what he always did best, catching the bad guy.

If the bond between Cst. Rutter and Nitro was no ordinary bond because Nitro was no ordinary dog. Born in Monroe, Washington in 1997, this purebred German Shepherd came to the department as a puppy without a name. His handlers decided to appeal to the children of Vancouver to help them name this newest member of the department. It was the first time the public was asked to participate and the response was immediate and impressive. More than 2,000 children sent in suggested names. Soon, PSD 9755 would be known as "Nitro".

While police dogs are normally trained to bring down a suspect by clamping on his arm, Nitro, being tenacious and unwilling to let a suspect escape, would sometimes take the target closest to him... an ankle. It was a technique that was very effective, as hundreds of criminals over his career could testify. There were also plans recently to make Nitro better known among the public. He and his partner have been featured in advertising posters designed to combat car theft in a campaign sponsored by the Insurance Corporation of B.C. It is a fitting, if unplanned, tribute to a valuable member of the VPD. Nitro became a full-fledged police dog in 1999 and began a career distinguished by his hard work and bravery.

Throughout his career he would also be the constant companion of his only partner, Constable Howard Rutter. "We spent all shift with each other and when I went home he came with me. When I went to the store he came with me, I mean we did absolutely everything together... to say I’m going to miss him doesn’t begin to describe my feelings." Together they were a hard team to beat. Many calls over the years were like the one in October 2002, when they were called to the 3600 block of Trinity Street because four males were breaking into cars. When they arrived the trail was already 20 minutes cold.

Nitro put his nose to the ground and started to track. City block after city block he followed the trail. Twelve blocks later he found them breaking into another car. They ran when they saw the dog, but Nitro gave chase and clamped onto a suspect who dragged him for another block. Nitro never let go until the suspect was safely in custody. Like all great partnerships, things didn’t always run smoothly. "There were so many times that I would be frustrated with Nitro and get mad at him, but all it took was him coming over and licking my face and all would be well again." But on the night of January 23, tragedy would strike and all would never be well again.

Shortly after 10 p.m., Rutter and Nitro were heading towards a stolen car that was being followed by police into New Westminster. New Westminster police were notified and tried to stop this car with spike belts, but the driver was able to manoeuvre around it. Rutter and Nitro were directly behind the stolen car when it came up to a train that was stopped on Front Street blocking it from going through. The car thieves then tried to get away on foot. Cst. Rutter grabbed Nitro and sent him on these two. One of the suspects jumped up onto a box car with Nitro in hot pursuit. Nitro grabbed him by the leg and hung on, as he has done with other criminals hundreds of times before. This time, however, the unthinkable happened; the train started to move. Nitro was swept under the moving train and was killed immediately. Cst. Rutter watched helplessly as his partner was trapped under the train. There was nothing anyone could do for him.

The man Nitro had a hold of was able to run off. The area was contained and searched over and over again by police officers and a New Westminster dog handler. Some hours later, a 26 year old man came out of his hiding place in the water amongst the reeds and was taken into custody. But Cst. Rutter still faced a difficult task. "The toughest part was having to break the news to my daughter and son. They’ve both known Nitro just about all their lives and were so attached to him," said Cst. Rutter. The loss of Nitro was also a serious blow to the members of the Vancouver Police Department and especially to the dog handlers who regularly rely on their partners to protect their lives.

A loss made even sadder by the fact that Nitro was due to retire this year in June. "I always knew that when we were on any call, he would always be there watching my back." Nitro will join the honour roll of VPD members who over the years gave their lives so that others might live in safety, but for Constable Rutter the loss will always be more personal. "What a lot of people don’t realize when they see us working is that Nitro wasn’t just a member of the police department, he was a member of the family.

I Was Caught By A Bait Car!

Bait Car — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 07:08:20 +0000

This is the story of Darren, a reformed car thief who agreed to an interview for baitcar.com after he was captured by an IMPACT bait car. Darren did not conduct this interview to build his own notoriety, in fact, the oposite is true. He did it educate the public about the true extent of the problem and to prevent other young people from making the same mistakes he did - namely, drug experimentation that lead to two addictions: crystal meth and car theft.

Darren first tried crystal meth when he was 15-years-old and by the age of 17 this destructive drug had a powerful hold on his life. He used the drug in the rave scene, but after he was taught how to steal cars by a meth trafficker, he began using them to transport stolen property from apartment storage locker break-ins, mail thefts, and theft from vehicles. Darren states that he has stolen hundreds of cars which in itself became a second addiction where he stole "for the rush".

Darren speaks freely about how crystal meth almost killed him when, after a meth binge that lasted for 12 straight days and nights without sleep, his throat became swollen shut and he required emergency hospitalization to save his life. He also described drug fuelled high-speed escapes from police in stolen cars where he almost struck innocent pedestrians, including a child beside a school. Darren is now 23-years-old, but he feels that the past eight years have been stolen from him - he was the "walking dead".

Darren's message is clear: crystal meth and car theft stole his life, and nearly stole the lives of innocent people. He spent the last two birthdays in jail, including the last two summers. His memory is severely compromised and he has trouble remembering simple events in his life. If you don't believe crystal meth is destructive, listen to what Darren has to say.

Darren's story is not unique. Virtually every suspect arrested by IMPACT investigators in a stolen car is in possession of crystal meth. Their stories are so similar they sound the same. They usually tried meth and were addicted faster than they thought possible. They began stealing cars as a way to transport them to the sites of other crimes where they would steal property to raise cash to buy more meth. It is a cycle that repeats itself day after day after day. The only way to stop the cycle is to seek help to free themselves from the meth addiction.

This Is Easy!

Bait Car — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 23:39:30 +0000

Bait cars give police and the public an insider's view of what is going on inside a stolen vehicle. In this case, the car thieves can be heard planning their next crimes, smoking crystal meth or crack, setting off fireworks from the moving car, and planning a pursuit with police before their arrest.

I Hope This Isn't Another Bait Car, Man!

Bait Car — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 20:31:39 +0000

Two women in a stolen bait truck pick up a friend who was going to give them a "hoot" of crystal meth, or methamphetamine. Instead, all three are arrested despite the high hopes of the female passenger who states, "I hope this isn't another f**kin' bait car man!" This incident is the first arrest of a woman driving a stolen bait car in British Columbia and it occurred in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. The 36-year-old female driver was convicted of theft and was sentenced to 45 days in jail and nine months probation. The 21-year-old female passenger was sentenced to a one year conditional sentence and one year probation. The male passenger was aquitted.

The Crack Smoker

Bait Car — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 22:57:49 +0000

The driver in this video is grooving to tunes before he notices police following him. He instantly realizes that he is driving a bait car when police disable the engine. Knowing that he would be going to jail, he pulls a crack pipe from his pocket and desperately smokes it as the bait car glides to a stop. This video once again demonstrates the linkage between auto theft and hard drug addiction. Even though the driver knew that police were moments from arresting him, the thought of a last hit of crack before jail outweighed any thought of being caught with the drug.

Oncoming - The Most Chilling Bait Car Video Yet

Bait Car — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 04:37:44 +0000

This is the most chilling bait car video that seasoned auto theft investigators from around the world have ever seen. It demonstrates unpredictable and volatile behaviour exhibited by a young man high on crystal meth, or methamphetamine, a highly addictive and destructive drug that is widely available and cheap to buy. This video also shows just how dangerous auto theft is. Auto theft is not just a property crime, but as you will see in this video, it presents a very clear threat to the safety of the public.

This incident occurred in on June 6, 2004 when a well known 28-year-old car thief drove up to a parked bait truck in rural Langley in a stolen vehicle. (Between the years 1997 and 2004, he had been charged with 123 criminal offences.) He dumped the first stolen vehicle and then stole the bait truck. As he drove off in the bait truck, the suspect pulled out a loaded handgun and tried fourteen times to fire it indiscriminantly out the window. It appears that the gun was jammed and he was unable to fire it, but his body language indicates that he fully expected it to.

The suspect then began casing cars and stopped numerous times to break into three vehicles in order to steal property from them. Soon a police officer who was dispatched to the location of the bait truck in the City of Abbostford arrived on scene while the suspect was out of the truck breaking into cars. As soon as the suspect saw the police car, he accellerated and reached speeds in excess of 140 Km/h while screaming "Oncoming" at the top of his lungs whenever he approached stop signs or red lights.

The suspect struck three separate vehicles before dumping the bait truck, stealing a Honda Accord (that had a steering wheel lock on it) and escaping. The suspect was identified through the bait car video which clearly reinforced the belief that he posed a significant risk to the safety of the public.

A large manhunt began involving IMPACT, Surrey RCMP Auto Theft, bike and dog sections, Langley RCMP Street Enforcement Unit, Port Moody Street Crime Unit, the Integrated Emergency Response Team, the South Fraser Emergency Reponse Team, and Air-1, the RCMP's helicopter based at YVR. On June 22, the suspect was spotted behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle in the City of Langley. During the surveillance on the suspect, he stole a second vehicle, this time a Ford F150 from an underground parking lot in Surrey. Due to the excessive speeds the suspect was driving at even without him being aware that he was being followed, Air-1 was called in to provide coverage from the air.

The suspect eventually spotted the helicopter, and in an attempt to flee from it, he drove through numerous fences and backyards at a townhouse complex in the Newton area of Surrey. Finally, after ramming the gate of an underground parking lot, he ran inside a large grocery story and fled out the back door into the waiting arms of officers who had surrounded it.

The suspect was held in custody for a year awaiting his trial. He was recently sentenced to a four year prison term as a result of 24 charges that stemmed from numerous incidents, including the theft of the bait truck. This suspect is believed to be one of the most prolific car thieves in the history of British Columbia. Information received points toward a minimum of three or four car thefts per day. This theft rate combined with a methamphetamine addiciton, his being armed with a handgun, and the dangerous manner that he would drive stolen vehicles, places him as a serious threat to the safety of both the public and police.

Why didn't police disable the engine right away?

At the time of this incident, the bait car program had been up and running for only one month. The engine disabling policy at that time dictated that a bait car engine should only be disabled if the bait car is being driven slowly or is stopped, so that the driver would not lose power steering and power brakes. When this bait truck first took off from police, the responding officer called for the engine to be disabled, but this request was denied since the dispatcher could see the high speeds of the truck on the computer monitor and followed the policy that was in effect at that time. As the vehicle fled and didn't slow down, an attempt to disable the engine was made, but the cellular coverage in this particlar area of rural Aldergrove was weak and electronic communication between the dispatch centre and the bait truck was lost for a long period of time. When communications were re-established, the suspect was getting out of the truck and stealing his next vehicle to escape.

What has IMPACT done to prevent this from happening again?

After this incident, the entire event was reviewed in detail. Extensive high speed bait car engine disabling testing was conducted that proved that the driver of a bait car will maintain control of both steering and braking at high speeds after the engine has been disabled. A training video was made that was sent out to every police department in the Lower Mainland. Policy was revised, and officers and dispatchers were re-trained. Now, the engine on a bait car will be disabled immediately if a suspect is driving dangerously or is fleeing from police, even if a police officer is not following the bait car.

Was this a failure of the bait car program?

No, we see this as a success. If the suspect did not steal our bait truck, he would have stolen another non-bait vehicle and we would never have seen just how violent and dangerous this suspect is. The video tape from the bait truck resulted in his capture, and subsequent conviction and four year sentence. Had it not been for the bait truck video, the suspect would likely be stealing cars today instead of sitting in jail.

Why is the suspect's name not released?

It is highly unusual for police to release a crime video to the public after a trial. In this case, we want to educate the public about how destructive crystal meth is, and how dangerous auto theft is. We hope that showing this video could prevent someone from trying drugs for the first time. This message can be accomplished without releasing the name of the accused. The Federal Privacy Act prevents government agencies from releasing the names or images of people unless there is a public need to do so. In this case, there isn't and the story can be told just as easily without his name being mentioned.

High Speed Escape

Bait Car — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 18:30:27 +0000

With the launch of the new Bait ATV, Bait Snowmobiles, Bait Watercraft, Bait Bike programs, we present a new video. This video shows the relationship between auto theft and the danger it poses to the public.

IMPACT Launches Bait Bikes, Bait ATV, Bait Snowmobiles, & Bait Watercraft

Bait Car — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 15:07:26 +0000

IMPACT has launched what could be a first in the world - an organized bait motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile and personal watercraft program. The theft of street and road bikes, dirt bikes, quads (ATVs), snowmobiles and personal watercraft has gone largely unchecked for decades. With the exception of motorcycles, the actual theft numbers for ATVs, snowmobiles and personal watercraft are not tracked.

In most cases, these vehicles are not insured and their thefts leave behind countless stories of misery and loss.

For the past few months, IMPACT investigators have been quietly placing bait versions of these specialized vehicles throughout Greater Vancouver from Hope to Horseshoe Bay with the intent of reducing thefts.

Bait recreational vehicles may be left in an underground parking lot, in a driveway, in a backyard under a deck, on a trailer, in a truck, in a garage, or at a campsite.

In the case of the video that was released today, we left an ATV on the back of a truck. It had been parked for only 12 hours in Aldergrove before two well-known car thieves stole both the truck and ATV.

Both suspects were arrested after they fled from the scene at speeds up to 143 Km/H. For his involvement, the passenger received a one year sentence and the driver received a two year sentence. Both are still in jail today.

This video also shows the relationship between auto theft and the danger it poses to the public. Watch as the suspects drive this 4000 pound truck at 138 Km/h through stop signs in the middle of the night with their lights off. Watch how desperate they are to get away. And watch how little they care about other users of the road. We can't tell you what kind of motorcycles and other vehicles we use in our bait program, but we will tell you that every one of our special bait vehicles has resulted in the arrest of suspects who tried to steal them.

For example, in April there was a rash of streetbike thefts in Richmond. We put a bait bike that was the same make and model the thieves were looking for inside an underground parking lot. After the suspects stole it, we followed our bait bike to a house in Burnaby. We then executed a search warrant on the house and recovered our bait bike, plus three other stolen street bikes - one of them was a Ducati worth $30,000.

Two men are currently charged with theft and possession of stolen property. The bottom line is this: If you are planning on stealing a bike, ATV, snowmobile or personal watercraft, you have no idea if it is bait, or not. Bait cars are everywhere, and now so are bait bikes. One last issue. These stolen vehicles have to be going somewhere. Have you ever been offered to buy a bike where the deal was too good to be true? If you have purchased stolen property then you are just as much part of the problem as the person who stole it.

IMPACT Launches Bait Bikes, Bait ATV, Bait Snowmobiles, & Bait Watercraft

Bait Car — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 15:07:26 +0000

In most cases, these vehicles are not insured and their thefts leave behind countless stories of misery and loss.

Bait recreational vehicles may be left in an underground parking lot, in a driveway, in a backyard under a deck, on a trailer, in a truck, in a garage, or at a campsite.

In the case of the this video, we left an ATV on the back of a truck. It had been parked for only 12 hours in Aldergrove before two well-known car thieves stole both the truck and ATV.

Where does bait car funding come from?

Bait Car — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 04:02:03 +0000

Many have been asking where funding for the bait car program comes from.

Here is the answer: Policing in the Province of British Columbia is directed through the Ministry of Solicitor General, Police Services Division. This ministry provided funding for the bait car program with an initial first year start-up cost of approximately $600,000 that covered the purchase of vehicles and equipment for the bait car fleet. ICBC, along with a number of private sponsors, have also supported the program through an award-winning advertising campaign.

In 2004, the advertising budget was approximately $400,000. The IMPACT bait car program is now the largest of its kind in North America. Under the leadership of Solicitor General John Les, the program has now expanded to Vancouver Island with plans to expand further into the interior of British Columbia. The bait car program is a perfect example of a crime reduction strategy that really works. After ten straight years of climbing auto theft rates in British Columbia, we have now seen a 71% reduction in auto theft over the past eight years.

Bait cars are everywhere. Steal one, go to jail.

So Much For Going Home

Bait Car — Sun, 22 May 2005 21:49:05 +0000

A couple of these guys wanted a ride home. But, in a stolen car?

What's All This?

Bait Car — Sun, 22 May 2005 09:14:01 +0000

This video represents a typical day for the auto theft investigators from IMPACT. In this video our investigators went to the City of Vancouver to target some known car thieves. Within a short period of time they spotted a stolen Jeep Cherokee that was being driven by the guy who stole it. The Cherokee was watched by officers, and when the right moment came, the suspect was arrested without a dangerous pursuit. You will notice that the officers are pointing their guns at the car thief during the arrest. This is because many car thieves are armed and dangerous. It is not uncommon for our investigators to arrest car thieves who are armed with loaded handguns and wearing bullet proof vests because they are on their way to commit a home invasion, grow rip or armed robbery.

Stereo Thief

Bait Car — Sun, 22 May 2005 02:08:30 +0000

This guy stole the stereo from a bait car in less than 30 seconds....impressive! But he wasn't so impressed when he saw his face on the six oclock news. IMPACT auto theft investigators received four calls from the public within fifteen minutes of the news broadcast and all four callers identified the suspect. He was of course arrested and faces theft and possession of stolen property charges.