Date:         Sun, 22 Jan 2006 19:29:48 -0700
Reply-To:     Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.UALBERTA.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Martin Jagersand <jag@CS.UALBERTA.CA>
Subject:      Re: Lower Mainland (B.C.) Bait Cars

> I was at E-Comm on the weekend, which is our emergency
> command/communications center here in Vancouver. They had a poster on
> the wall advertising their bait car program, which for anyone who
> doesn't know, is a program whereby they park a car in some public area
> and wait for someone to steal it, and it actually has a camera inside,
> and the vehicle can be de-activated so that the criminal is stopped in
> his tracks and arrested.
>
> The poster showed a parking lot with various vehicles, INCLUDING A
> WESTY.....surely they don't think anyone would steal a Westy for a
> short joyride?!

Sadly my two westies have had several encounters with burglars.

'94 Westy: Managed to get in, force both the electrical and steering
wheel lock, but (fortunately) never figured out the little cable that
goes and disables the shifter (automatic). Cost a lot of $$ to fix
broken parts around steering column.

'82 Diesel Westy: Has seen several entries, but so far apparently
no attempt drive away. (My hope: burglars don't know you have to
pre-glow a diesel to make it fire)

The other odd thing: I lived almost 10yy in the US (NY,CT,MD) I was
assaulted, my house was burglarized, bikes stolen, but no-one ever
touched my Westy. Here in Canada I've had no attempt at either me or
house or bikes (knock on wood), but five breakins in my Westies.

I'd be curious how well the bait programs work. Didn't think such
a thing would be legal (could be argued to entice crime?)

/Martin