Police catch car criminal with innovative tactic
Date: 20/02/2008 09:27:33
Police in Bradford using a 'capture car' to catch potential vehicle criminals have netted their first offender.
Officers have utilised a parked vehicle complete with possessions on show inside to lure thieves to the car and see if they will break into it.
If they successfully get into the vehicle, the offender is sprayed with SmartWater - a liquid that is invisible to the naked eye but can be seen under UV light and is difficult to remove, car insurance customers may be interested to read.
Nathan Shuttleworth, aged 28, is the first person to have been sentenced for breaking into the vehicle, being given a six-week prison term by Bradford magistrates court.
Acting Sergeant of the Bradford South Vehicle Crime Team Alex Artis said: "This is a great tactic for us, as it means that car criminals are aware of the technology but have no way of defending themselves against it."
Recently, the BBC reported that some parts of Bradford are rife with motorists dodging their car insurance costs.