Crime & Safety
East Austin Man Arrested After Taking Police 'Bait Car' Intended To Tempt Would-Be Thieves
The young man taking the bait drove the car to downtown before being apprehended by cops.
EAST AUSTIN, TX -- Police arrested a man last week for allegedly stealing a so-called bait vehicle, a car left intentionally on the street with keys in the ignition used to tempt would-be thieves to steal them.
An affidavit on the Aug. 4 incident was just released on Monday. In it, Timothy Roberts, 20, is said to have taken the car in the 1200 block of Poquito Street in East Austin, according to KEYE-TV. Police said the bait car windows were half open with the keys in the ignition.
Roberts took the bait. Police said he entered the car through its unlocked front door and drove it to 8th Street. He was subsequently arrested while leaving the vehicle on foot.
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According to court documents referenced by KEYE, the suspect admitted to police that he took the vehicle to travel downtown.
Police indicate on the affidavit of their plan to deploy bait vehicles in the future. They said the tactic is an attempt to apprehend property crime offenders.
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