POLICE SET THIEF BAIT IN AUTOS.Byline: Blanca E. Cordova Cordova, Spain: see Córdoba. Daily News Staff Writer Thieves out to burglarize bur·glar·ize v. bur·glar·ized, bur·glar·iz·ing, bur·glar·iz·es v.tr. 1. To enter and steal from (a building or other premises). 2. cars with Christmas goodies could be in for a big surprise in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Police are starting their annual Operation Holiday Surprise using ``bait cars,'' to catch the attention of opportunists who might be roaming the parking lots of shopping malls. Officials announced the program Friday at Fallbrook Mall, one of the spots where officers will be stationed to catch thieves in the act. The police Community Effort to Combat Auto Theft developed the special program three years ago to make the holidays safer for shoppers. ``We've had a tremendous success over the past few years,'' said Deputy Chief Michael Bostic of the Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . Valley Bureau. ``Thefts are down nearly 30
percent.''
The operation uses late-model decoy DECOY. A pond used for the breeding and maintenance of water-fowl. 11 Mod. 74, 130; S. C. 3 Salk. 9; Holt, 14 11 East, 571. vehicles containing cellular phones and other valuable items, along with wrapped packages. ``We put a little surprise inside. . . . When they come in to obtain that holiday surprise they then are arrested,'' Bostic said. He said officers have to be ready to apprehend culprits on a moment's notice. It only takes a few seconds for the suspect to burglarize locked or unlocked vehicles, he said. ``If they break in to steal a package it just takes about five to ten seconds,'' Bostic said. The holiday program involves the California Highway Patrol highway patrol n. A state law enforcement organization whose police officers patrol the public highways. , Department of Motor Vehicles In the United States of America, Department of Motor Vehicles (or DMV) is a commonly used name of the government agency of a U.S. state which administers the registration of automobiles (e.g., by issuing license plates), and/or the licensing of drivers (e.g. investigators, and Los Angeles police, said LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. Detective Ken Belt, field supervisor of CECAT. Three years ago, as many as 10 arrests were made in one night. But every year the numbers decrease, Belt said. ``We don't have as high of an arrest rate anymore,'' Belt said. He encouraged shoppers to take precautions to avoid being targeted by thieves. People are encouraged not to leave any valuable items in their cars. If they can't avoid doing so, they should cover them and always lock the car, Belt said. ``The thief is looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. the opportunity and we as citizens shouldn't give him the opportunity,'' Belt said. ``Don't make it easy.'' Christmas shoppers at Fallbrook Mall on Friday said they were happy to hear something was being done to fight holiday season crime. ``I think that crime has come down a lot since police have become aware of the situation,'' said Anne Borrowdale, 45, of Woodland Hills. ``They (police) are coming out and showing their faces more.'' Laurie Makanui, 35, of Canoga Park, who was eating lunch at the mall's food court, said the operation is a good way to control crime. ``I think it's a clever way,'' Makanui said. ``It's letting us be more aware of the surroundings and be more cautious.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1) Deputy Chief Michael Bostic announces Operation Holiday Surprise, an effort to catch gift thieves in mall parking lots. (2) Boxes set the bait for would-be thieves Friday at Fallbrook Mall's parking lot. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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