Crime & Safety
No One Takes 'Bait Car' in El Cerrito
El Cerrito police and the California Highway Patrol placed a 'bait car' in various commercial locations in the city for eight hours Friday. They kept close watch on the vehicle, which could be stopped by remote control. No one tried to take it
No thieves took the bait in El Cerrito Friday when offered an easy-to-steal car.
The El Cerrito Police Department teamed up with the California Highway Patrol and "deployed a 'bait car' in a number of commercial areas to see if anyone would steal the car," said El Cerrito Police Lt. Paul Keith.
No one did.
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It was deployed for eight hours, Keith said. Plainclothes officers and CHP officers kept watch over the vehicle, which is wired to be stopped by remote control if someone tries to drive it away. El Cerrito police also had units nearby in case a pursuit was needed, he said.
Police don't want to disclose the exact make and model because they don't want to tip off would-be thieves, Keith said. The CHP keeps a range of vehicles to use and rotates their deployment, he said.
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Frequently used are Hondas and Acuras, which are commonly stolen makes, he said.
The cars are left in various states to make theft easy – such as being unlocked, having the keys in the vehicle, leaving the motor running or some combination of these circumstances, Keith said.
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