DO-IT-YOURSELF COP CAR FOR $2000

New York Post ^ | June 24, 2002 | JAMIE SCHRAM and STEVEN HIRSCH

[Drew68]

For $2,000, anyone - including terrorists - can get a car and dress it up to look like a New York police vehicle, a Post investigation has found.

Last week, state officials alerted law enforcement to be on the lookout for terrorists with fake ambulances or police vehicles.

[Drew68]

Hmm... Wonder how long it will take to nip this in the bud?

[PatrioticAmerican]

YOU MEAN THIS IS ILLEGAL??? Why aren't I told these things!!!

[AdA$tra]

They sell the used police interceptors for next to nothing around here. Some of them look pretty good. I was telling a friend how it would be fun to have one. He pointed out the error of my ways. He said as soon as I started driving I would get frustrated because everyone in front of me would drive real slow thinking I was a cop....I guess I will keep driving my Jimmy.

[thatsnotnice]

Or for $0 you can just liberate one... I remember an incident in which a car washer that worked at a Portland Police Bureau maintenance yard just grabbed the keys and took a police car home once. He had it in his driveway when they located it. He drove it around town for over two weeks before they even knew it was missing. It wasn't a look-alike, it was the Real Thing.

Of course, I realize that couldn't happen now... ha!

[fortress]

Great! Giving these terrorist more ideas.
Leave it to the press to come up with something like this.

[mamelukesabre]

Uh, I don't mean to burst your bubble, but they don't get rid of those things for no reason. Cop cars see very rough use. THey get rid of them when they are worn out, or too beat up to look presentable.

[Drew68]

YOU MEAN THIS IS ILLEGAL??? Why aren't I told these things!!!

While I've never really inquired, I just assumed that one *could not* simply go purchase authentic police uniforms and squad car decals.

(Remind me to pick up one of those handy-dandy authentic SWAT uniforms the next time I do a home-invasion robbery!)

</sarcasm>

[parsifal]

The terrorists can still disquise themselves as soccer moms, telephone repairmen, the cable guy, the checker at the convenience store, a shopper. parsy.

[Chuckster]

http://www.squadfitters.com/

Or you could use a motorcycle

[The Chief]

You also can get lots of things to help you not only make a car look like a police car, but to make a person look like a firefighter or EMS provider, or even perhaps a police officer at www.galls.com, see for yourself what you can order...

Now I'm sure for the actual law enforcement equipment they have some sort of way to verify that the person ordering is allowed to purchase those items, but who knows?

[Drew68]

www.galls.com

www.squadfitters.com

Those are great links. Thanks.

[Drew68]

bttt

[NMC EXP]

"Uh, I don't mean to burst your bubble, but they don't get rid of those things for no reason"

---

I can tell you from 1st hand experience that the Missouri Highway Patrol auctions off their cars at 50K miles and although used hard they are well maintained. Maintenence of cash poor city and county cop cars may not be to great.

Our (retired) Crown Vic interceptor is an outstanding vehicle. It is fast and handles like a sports car.

Regards

J.R.

[AdA$tra]

Cop cars see very rough use.

It wasn't going to be my Sunday go to meetin' car. Some that I have looked at had less than 100k miles, not a mark on the body, cool spot light included. They even included a record of every nut-bolt ever turned/oil change ever done. Here in Kansas the RINO's spend money like they are Indians with a new casino. Although I have to admit I saw in the paper that the State was selling a surplus Suburban with over 300k on it for over a grand.

[Drew68]

Another shameless self-bump.

[Jhoffa_]

Or for $0 you can just liberate one...

LOL! No kidding.. Same thing happened here a few years back.

A "mentally disturbed" man who was a trustee/convict at the local jail was on car wash detail.. And he vanished in a police car he was supposed to be washing.

Man, they totally freaked out. Figured he was heading for the interstate and set up road blocks and stuff.. Went completely bonkers.

They were looking in the wrong direction though, since he just went home to get his reading glasses and then came back.

That little joyride cost him 4 more years if I remember correctly.

(and in truth, I see those things sitting.. idling and unattended all the time for hours on end. anyone could steal a police car if they really wanted to. And possibly get away with it, notwithstanding some lojack type device.)