As of yesterday, 6,660 cars were reported stolen in Charlotte this year. This is a 3% increase from last year. Today, CMPD announced a new method they are using to catch car theft suspects and they say it works!
CMPD has purchased a car- that looks like any other car- but it's not. The vehicle is equipped with a silent alarm that alerts police when someone is tampering with the vehicle. It tells police when the door has opened and when someone tries to start the engine. Police can remotely disable the car and lock the doors to trap the thief until police arrive.
CMPD officers set up a 'decoy' vehicle in a busy shopping center parking lot on Central Avenue this morning. Cars have been disappearing from this lot- as well as several other parking lots across Charlotte. Police believe kids are skipping school and stealing vehicles to get around. The new technique worked! A teenager got into the 'bait' car and police officers from the Eastway Division moved in and arrested him. Police are planning to put the bait car out in other high theft areas and they hope to add more decoy cars in the future.
