CAPTURE cars with their smart sprays and candid cameras make compelling evidence against thieves who steal from motors.
That's the message from Detective Chief Inspector Dean Henson, who looked back at the success of the covert scheme, which has had a 100 per cent conviction rate since it was introduced in Wakefield a year ago.
When a thief breaks into a capture c
ar it triggers a spy camera and can spray them with liquid DNA. The spray links the thief to the crime and it shows up under ultra violet light.
Det Chief Insp Henson, crime manager for Wakefield, said the latest crime figures showed a 10 per cent reduction in thefts from cars in the Wakefield district. Car theft has been cut by 15 per cent. He believes the capture car scheme, where police deploy a number of vehicles baited with Sat Nav systems, is a factor in the crime cut.
He added: "We are extremely pleased with the results we have had, the quality of the evidence and the deterrent factor."
In areas blighted by vehicle crime police sometimes advertise on lampposts that capture cars are in the vicinity.
The crime manager said the smart spray was tough to get off, adding: "You just can't wash your hands with soap and water. It is extremely difficult to remove and can remain in contact for a substantial period of time."
The capture car scheme has now been rolled out across the country and has proved a tough rap for defendants to beat. "It's obviously a defendant's right to plead not guilty but the evidence is pretty compelling when we put it to them," said Det Chief Insp Henson.
He urged car owners to take crime prevention methods, like keeping valuables out of sight and for the public to report people suspected of car crime.
But he added: "Over all recorded crime in our district is down by over 30 percent since 2003, making Wakefield a really safe place to live in."
To see a thief being caught on camera by capture car click on the links below
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