[Impala64ssa]

. Cops set traps all the time. Every "sting" operation is a trap, bait cars, fake prostitutes, real drugs, on and on. And this is just the officially endorsed tactics.
I remember back in the 70's, a policewoman, who became one of the most highly decorated women in the NYPD, nicknamed "Muggable Mary". She would dress up as a homeless "bag lady", nun, junkie, etc to look vulnerable to any would-be muggers. The ACLU tried to file suit against the NYPD on the grounds that "a mugger should know who he's mugging" Thankfully, the ACLU was told to "take a hike".

[moehoward]

Or the trailer park resident who claimed he should have known the hooker was a cop because “she had all her teeth”. It’s a fine line to make the bait enticing enough but not so irresistible to make it blatant entrapment.

Bait cars are often left unlocked, keys in the ignition. Sometimes left double parked running.

But if my car is stolen from my locked garage, I have to prove I didn’t authorize it’s theft.