December is the month when thefts from cars go up, so Vancouver police are responding by putting bait in their bait cars.
Over the next few weeks, the department is placing gifts in their bait cars -- police-owned cars that are parked throughout the city for the purposes of catching thieves.
"If you want to get into our cars to take them, we're gonna be coming to take them back," said Vancouver police Detective Phil Ens during a media demonstration Wednesday.
"We'll have great video of you taking our stuff," he added, referring to the video, audio and GPS-tracking equipment installed in each bait car.
Ens showed reporters how easily and quickly thieves can break into a car, first using a slim jim, then whipping a spark plug attached to a cable against the car's window, shattering it.
Police advised motorists to avoid dropping off packages in their cars and then returning to shop. But if gifts need to be stored in the car, it's best to put them in the trunk.
Ens also recommended disabling the mechanism that allows you to pop the trunk from the inside of the car.
Most-stolen cars
Meanwhile, the Insurance Bureau of Canada released its annual list of most-stolen vehicles Tuesday. They are:
1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
2. 2003 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4-door AWD
3. 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door
4. 2006 Chevrolet/GMC Trailblazer SS 4-door 4WD
5. 2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT 4-door AWD
6. 2005 Cadillac Escalade ESV 4-door AWD
7. 1997 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder 2-door
8. 2000 Audi S4 Quattro 4-door
9. 2006 Hummer H2 4-door AWD
10. 2005 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD
According to the bureau, the appearance of high-end models like the Escalade reflects the growing involvement of organized crime groups in auto theft.
