A would-be thief in West Vancouver got more than he bargained for when the target of his attempted pilfering turned out to be a police bait car.
A silent alarm showing someone was breaking into the car in the Cedardale area was triggered around 5 a.m. June 23.
West Vancouver police officers quickly moved in to surround the suspect.
Realizing the jig was up, the suspect tried to escape on a bicycle, then on foot, but was nabbed by officers and arrested a short distance away.
Property believed to be stolen was later recovered from the vehicle.
Subsequent investigation led police to additional property that officers believe may be linked to other thefts from vehicles in West Vancouver.
Const. Jeff Palmer, spokesman for the West Vancouver Police Department, said police frequently make use of bait cars.
Bait cars look like ordinary vehicles, but are equipped with special sensors, cameras and shut-off devices. A silent alarm is sounded if someone tries to break in or steal the vehicle. Bait cars can also be remotely controlled by police.
Palmer said bait cars are set up to look as ordinary as possible. “We don’t set up a new iPhone on the dash.”
Thefts from vehicles in West Vancouver are down this year so far, compared to last year, with just over 80 incidents between January and June this year compared to 145 in 2014.
Figures for June are up over the same month last year, however.
“A very clear majority of them have involved valuables left overnight in unlocked vehicles,” said Palmer. “It is a very safe community. That’s still not a good reason to feel it’s OK to leave your wallet in your unlocked car overnight.”
Police are recommending several charges, including theft under $5,000, possession of stolen property, and several counts of breach of probation against a 44-year-old Vancouver man.
