Created: 07/30/2010 10:53 PM KSTC45.com | Print Story By: Brett Dyste

Police Baiting Vehicles to Catch Thieves

For the last 12 years Minneapolis Police officers have been baiting cars trying to catch thieves. The department says they have convicted 350 people during that time.

The cars are placed in areas where there is a pattern of auto theft. This year alone there have already been 1,032 auto thefts. Back in 2005 there were 4,071. Since that year there has been a steady decline.

Just last Thursday police caught a teenager stealing a bait car near N. 14th Ave. and N. Fremont Ave. Police won't say much about where they keep the cars parked and how many they bait cars they have.

Police will say they simply target areas hit hard by auto theft.