WISBECH: Police set up 'trap cars' to catch thieves in the act

EXCLUSIVE by: TOM JACKSON

THE traps have been baited and items left on view in cars across Wisbech.

Now all the police have to do is wait to catch the unsuspecting thieves in the act.

Police have launched their new 'trap cars' -which have been left around Wisbech as part of an enforcement tactic, to catch the car thieves.

It comes after a summer-long educational campaign was judged by the town's Inspector, Robin Sissons, as "only partially successful".

Insp Sissons said: "This initiative is one branch of a strategic plan that we have for the area to reduce vehicle crime.

"A fleet of vehicles of various makes, models and classes have been equipped with a wide range of detection devices and are placed in streets.

"If these are broken into, then specially trained officers are alerted and are able to use tactics to identify the offenders."

The new tactics have already proved successful, with one of the trap cars broken into last week. A man was later charged with handling stolen goods and is set to appear in court next month.

Throughout the summer, police carried out patrols targeting drivers who leave items on show inside their vehicles when parked in car parks and on the roadside.

Handbags, jackets, cash, mobile phones and even a flat-screen television were found inside hundreds of cars by officers. They provided the perfect treasure for the opportunist thief.

However, Insp Sissons said of the campaign: "This was only partially successful and so we are now going to use an enforcement tactic."

Bright yellow signs are now appearing across the town warning would-be thieves and asking the question 'Am I the trap car'.

Insp Sissons said: "The message is: beware thieves because you just do not know if the car you are about to break into is a trap car or not.