Video Shows Man Breaking Into 'Bait' Car: Eagan Police

EAGAN, MN — Eagan police say a 42-year-old man was recently arrested after breaking into one of their "decoy" or "bait" cars. The vehicle — outfitted with cameras and a silent alarm — was parked in the underground garage of an apartment building after a string of thefts.

Police say last Wednesday, a man broke into the bait car, stole a decoy wallet with credit cards, and unknowingly set off the silent alarm.

Investigators say that when they responded, they were misled by the suspect. According to authorities, the suspect said a woman broke into the car and left.

Because of a video malfunction, officers could not watch the video of the initial theft. The glitch was fixed and officers left the area.

A short time later, the alarm was activated again. Officers swarmed the area and found the same suspect, now carrying items from the car, police said.

The suspect claimed he found them by the dumpster, but video showed otherwise. The man was arrested and booked at Dakota County Jail for felony theft, tampering with a motor vehicle, and falsely reporting a crime.

Eagan police say motorists should practice these habits to prevent thefts from their car:

• Never leave valuable items in your car
• Always lock the car doors
• Do not keep any spare keys in or near your car