DECOY GIFTS IN CARS USED TO TRAP THIEVES.

Byline: Josh Kleinbaum Staff Writer

NORTHRIDGE - As a tall, lanky man walked toward a white Honda Accord in the parking lot outside Sears at the Northridge Fashion Center, six sets of eyes trained on him. Like most others in the parking lot Friday, the man walked past the car, not even looking in the window.

``Nobody's taking the bait,'' said Phil, an off-duty private investigator and member of the LAPD's Devonshire Volunteer Surveillance Team. ``There's better fishing at Castaic.''

The Los Angeles Police Department kicked off the holiday shopping season with a bait car operation at the Fashion Center. A DVD camcorder worth more than $475 sat on the front passenger seat of the white Accord, next to a partially open window. Members of the Volunteer Surveillance Team watched the car, waiting for someone to try to steal the camcorder, and two LAPD officers stood by to make an arrest.

In four hours, nobody took the bait. Clearly, the DVD camcorder isn't the hot holiday gift of 2005. But the LAPD believes it is still sending a message to would-be burglars: If you try to steal from a car this holiday season, you may be being watched.

``We're not doing this because there's a major problem at this mall,'' said LAPD Officer Sean Reinhardt, who oversees the Volunteer Surveillance Team. ``We're going to be doing this at malls and shopping centers all over Devonshire. This is a target-rich environment.''

On top of the roof of a nearby building, four members of the surveillance team - a father-son pair of private investigators, a retired Pacific Telephone worker and a retired Navy submarine commander - perked up anytime somebody approached the Accord. They barked reports into their LAPD radios and they waited.

It is an exercise in patience.

``You talk to your partner and you eat a lot,'' said Jim, 83, the team leader. ``It seems to stimulate your appetite. We always carry snacks.''

The team handles an assortment of surveillance operations, watching for street races, graffiti artist and truants. Recently, the team arrested a locker room thief at a local gym.

Much of the time, though, they wait for hours and nothing happens.

``You watch a lot of grass grow, and it grows slowly at times,'' said Dick, the retired submarine commander. ``Then something will happen, and it gets your adrenaline flowing.''

The Devonshire Volunteer Surveillance Team plans to be at malls and shopping centers two to three times a week through Christmas.

``It really magnifies my ability to do things,'' Reinhardt said. ``I can't cover this whole lot by myself, but we've got it covered.''

Josh Kleinbaum, [phone]

josh.kleinbaum(at)dailynews.com

SAFETY FIRST

Holiday shopping safety tips

--Park as close as possible to your destination and remember where you parked.

--Lock doors and windows. Set alarm or use anti-theft device.

--Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

--Locate your keys before going to your car.

--Securely hold your purse, handbag and parcels. Do not put them down to open your door.

--Shop during daylight hours if possible. At night, shop with a friend or family member.

--Beware of strangers.

--Always be aware of your surroundings. If you see anything unusual, contact a security guard or police.

SOURCE: Los Angeles Police Department, Devonshire Area Station

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