Decoy cars are used by law enforcement to catch car thieves by creating an attractive target for theft and monitoring it. They can be controlled remotely and have recording devices for evidence collection. Decoy cars can also be used to identify criminals involved in dismantling abandoned vehicles. Sources for decoy cars vary, including seized assets and donations from the public or car dealerships. Critics argue that decoy car tactics can ensnare Good Samaritans.
A decoy car is a vehicle that law enforcement officers use to catch car thieves by creating an attractive target for theft and monitoring it until a criminal takes advantage of the opportunity. This technique is sometimes known as a “honey trap,” a reference to creating an enticing scenario to trap criminals. Law enforcement agencies may use decoy cars in high-crime areas as part of a crackdown, or they may use them in random sweeps of an area. It is not uncommon for members of the public to be told about decoy cars to create a disincentive to theft, as thieves never know when a target is a decoy car.
The decoy car is usually a fairly ordinary vehicle, sometimes selected from a list of frequently stolen makes and models, with some modifications. Law enforcement agencies may be able to control the car remotely, allowing them to do things like turn off the engine or lock people inside. The car may also have video and audio recording devices to enable evidence collection for court.
The police can simply park the decoy car to set up a sting, or they can stage a scene to see if the criminals bite. For example, a plainclothes female officer might drive the car to the sidewalk of a club and abandon it with the engine running, or the officers might stage a fight in which both parties walk away from a car, leaving it unlocked with the keys on earth. Some critics of decoy car tactics argue that these scenarios can ensnare Good Samaritans who may enter the car with the intent of moving it to a safer location, rather than stealing it.
Car theft can be a common problem in some regions and can occur in cycles. When the police notice an increase in car theft, they may use a decoy car as part of their police tactics. In addition to being useful for catching car thieves, decoy cars can also be part of a sting to identify criminals involved in dismantling abandoned vehicles. The police can set up a remote alarm to respond when someone makes contact with the car, or they can observe from a distance and intervene when someone tries to steal or strip the car.
Sources for decoy cars vary. Some police departments use seized assets and may later sell them at auction or reuse them for other plainclothes investigations or operations. Sometimes, members of the public donate cars to the police force, and occasionally, car dealerships may offer a car for use as a decoy in operations.
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