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Police Departments Using 'Bait' Cars to Catch Car Crooks

by Lee Bains on October 30, 2008 at 08:01 PM



Thanks to Allstate Insurance Company, over a dozen police departments across the country are using remote technology to catch car thieves red-handed, CBSNews.com reports.

The "bait car" system, which incorporates GPS tracking, audio and video recording, and a remote control apparatus, allows police to follow, watch, and -- finally -- stop car thieves in their tracks. Via remote, an officer can cut off the car's engine, lock its doors and windows, and activate a car alarm.

Although Allstate has just recently made donations of these systems, other U.S. police departments have been using some form of the technology for years. The Nashville, Tennessee police, for instance, have reported significant decreases in auto theft since they started using decoy cars four years ago.

We wonder if those insurance big wigs know that a Kenyan teenager beat them to this fundamental idea months ago. [From: CBSNews.com]

Tags: bait car, BaitCar, crime, gps, polics, safety, security, theft, thieves

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