Posted on 03/04/2007 8:15:16 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
COTULLA — Thieves beware: Not all loot may be what it seems in La Salle County.
That enticing valuable left out on the front porch, or in the bed of a pickup, could be part of the Sheriff's Department's latest crackdown on crime.
Authorities have begun concealing tracking devices on various items in and around Cotulla to see if anyone steals them. They're hiding them in toolboxes, lawnmowers and air compressors.
Sheriff Victor S. Villarreal said cameras are also hidden nearby to record anyone who steals the baited loot.
"It's a pretty good system," the sheriff said, adding word of the operation already has swept through the small South Texas town. "These burglars are left wondering. They're worried about whether something has a transmitter or not."
When the decoys are stolen, deputies can use frequency detectors to locate the items and arrest suspects in possession of them. Any footage caught on camera aids prosecutors.
At least two arrests have been made under the system so far, both local men who await prosecution, the sheriff said.
Villarreal, a former computer programming professor and self-proclaimed technology buff, recently initiated the high-tech sting operation to supplement his department's patrol efforts. He said he is targeting areas where thieves are more prone to strike.
"With the little number of deputies I have, I have to take advantage of the technology to increase our eyes and ears out there," he said.
Criminal defense lawyers aren't objecting.
A representative of the Texas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers said law enforcers can carry out such projects as long as they don't do something outlandish, such as placing money out in the open for anyone to take.
"From what I heard described, I don't think that's entrapment at all," said Keith Hampton, who also is a charter member of the Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
René Peña, district attorney for the 81st Judicial District, which includes La Salle County, called the operation innovative and resourceful.
"I think the use of technology within the law will help curtail and identify crime," he said.
The response has been noticeable.
Though Villarreal said it's too early for the department to offer statistics of its success, he said dispatchers report a decline in the number of theft or burglary complaints they take over the phone.
The sheriff said anyone successfully prosecuted will be asked to pay restitution to cover the cost of the equipment used to catch them. Some of it the department already owned and only needed to refurbish, and the rest cost less than $2,000.
"So the bad guys are going to end up buying it for us," he said.
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jzarazua@express-news.net
Bravo Victor!
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Excellent idea. I have been thinking that things like this will become more common as the technology gets cheaper. I wonder if we are doing simular things in the Iraqi theater?
Nice. Nail some scum.
Would it be cynical to say they see it as good for business?
When I was in basic training there used to be posters on the walls in the barracks stating that "Opportunity + Desire = Crime". I have no problem with scum removal but part of me smells entrapment.
Good for this sheriff. Finally someone with common sense who really wants to catch the crooks.
""From what I heard described, I don't think that's entrapment at all," said Keith Hampton, who also is a charter member of the Austin Criminal Defense Lawyers Association."
So far, so good. The only thing that could stop this, is if it resulted in large numbers of arrests of black and/or Hispanics, but that doesn't seem possible, so we probably have nothing to worry about.
It seems like a wonderful example of common sense police methods.
Yeah, me too. The story doesn't go into much detail, but I guess the sheriff is careful about how he sets up the decoys. I would hate to see some good samaritan notice something valuable and decide to take it with the thought that, "Gee, I better take this and see if I can find the owner before some bad guy notices it and steals it."
I don't see this as any different than drug/prostitution sting operations, or such things as notifying felons with warrants that they have a prize coming if they'll just be at so-and-so place at such-and-such time.
As the story states, this would be entrapment if items were left for anyone to come along and 'claim' them. But that doesn't seem to be the case. It's directed toward criminals and so no entrapment.
That comment reminds me of a local politician's statement supporting people "who have to steal for a living."
If the "good samaritan" finds articles on someone's front porch or the bed of a pickup they should have a pretty good idea of ownership.
If there is no sense of property rights, soon there is no such thing as property.
And this is part of that society striking back.
"They feel these aliens owe them reparations of some sort, so they steal unashamedly."
Aliens? Have you ever been to Cotulla or La Salle County, Texas?
And they publish it in the newspaper. Bet it was on television too. Do they think crooks don't watch or read?
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