Date: 1/2/07
Author:
Source: Mukilteo Beacon

Parking lots are like a smorgasbord to car thieves, says Snohomish County Sheriff’s Sergeant Dave Sorenson.

Whether it’s an apartment complex, a shopping mall or a park & ride lot, thieves are looking for an opportunity.

At Community Transit’s 19 Park & Ride lots, that opportunity now carries much more risk for the would-be thief.

The agency has started a bait car program – placing a vehicle in various park & rides that isn’t your average car or van.

It is equipped with hidden cameras to record the break-in and theft. Once broken into, a bait car sends a signal that notifies Community Transit’s transit police, a contracted unit from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. Using a GPS system, the vehicle’s location is tracked and police are dispatched to the scene.

Once in position, the car’s engine shuts down and the doors are locked, trapping the would-be car thief. The tiny, hidden video cameras provide all the evidence needed for conviction.

“Car prowls and thefts are an issue anywhere a lot of vehicles are parked,” Sgt. Sorenson said. “This program should discourage car thieves from ‘shopping’ at our facilities, because if they continue to do so, we’re going to catch them.”

Bait car programs have been used successfully in many cities, but Community Transit is the first transit agency in the Pacific Northwest to employ this approach.

Large signs have been posted at the entrances to all park & rides warning would-be thieves that the bait car program is in place. To maintain the element of surprise, the agency will not disclose the make or number of bait vehicles in service.

Community Transit also uses other tactics to prevent car prowls and thefts. Sheriff’s transit police use bicycle patrols as well as unmarked cars and surveillance vehicles to watch for criminals.

In recent months, the agency’s deputies have used these tools to catch five would-be car thieves and numerous car prowlers. In the past year, car thefts from Snohomish County park & ride lots dropped from 131 to 85.

The bait car program is yet another extension of the effort to protect transit users’ vehicles.

Community Transit CEO Joyce Olson likes the new program because it adds another layer of security for bus passengers who use park & ride lots.

“We want our passengers to feel safe when they use our facilities, and our partnership with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Department has enhanced safety,” she said. “With the additional security, incidents at our park & rides have dropped dramatically in the past three years.”

Park & ride users - and anyone who parks in an open lot like a shopping center, apartment complex or even your own driveway - also can take steps to make their vehicles less attractive to thieves:

*            Don’t leave valuables in sight inside vehicles.

*            Place valuables in the trunk before arriving at a parking lot. If you do it in the parking lot, thieves could see you and target your car.

*            Lock the doors and take your keys with you.

*            If possible, park in well-lighted and well-traveled areas.

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