"We want criminals to be weary that if they get into a car with keys in it, that it's probably going to be a bait vehicle, and they're going to get caught and they're going to go to jail," said Sgt. Danny Sheppard with the Galveston County Auto Crime Task Force.
The Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force laid their bait, just waiting for a criminal to strike, and it worked.
"Our duties are to employ bait cars to catch thieves that prey on vehicles with the keys left in them, bout 50% of the vehicles stolen now have the keys left inside," said Sgt. Sheppard.
The task force won't say how many bait cars they have. They could have two or 200, but car thefts aren't the only problem. Investigators say they've seen an increase of ATV thefts during deer season.
"In about September, October, and even in to November once the season starts, you'll have an increase in ATV thefts. Boat thefts are usually in the summer months or a month or two before summer starts you'll see an increase in Marine thefts," said Sgt. Sheppard.
That's why the task force has deployed bait boats and ATV's. The criminals see them as easy targets, and they are hard to track down after they are stolen. So police will put a tracking device underneath unsuspected vehicles, so they can track them down and take the criminals to jail.
The Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force laid their bait, just waiting for a criminal to strike, and it worked.
"Our duties are to employ bait cars to catch thieves that prey on vehicles with the keys left in them, bout 50% of the vehicles stolen now have the keys left inside," said Sgt. Sheppard.
The task force won't say how many bait cars they have. They could have two or 200, but car thefts aren't the only problem. Investigators say they've seen an increase of ATV thefts during deer season.
"In about September, October, and even in to November once the season starts, you'll have an increase in ATV thefts. Boat thefts are usually in the summer months or a month or two before summer starts you'll see an increase in Marine thefts," said Sgt. Sheppard.
That's why the task force has deployed bait boats and ATV's. The criminals see them as easy targets, and they are hard to track down after they are stolen. So police will put a tracking device underneath unsuspected vehicles, so they can track them down and take the criminals to jail.
