24-05-2025
The stats behind APD's bait car program
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – More auto theft suspects are behind bars, thanks to a recent Albuquerque Police Department bait car sting. So, just how successful is the over-decade-long bait car program? In 2024, at least 52 arrests were made from the bait cars, with 19 arrests so far this year. Investigators said one alarming trend they have seen is more juveniles stealing cars, as well as more car thieves carrying guns.
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Overall, the department said its efforts to curb auto theft are working. 'I think last time we saw 43% reduction in auto theft this year, so I think we're seeing a little bit less bait vehicles stolen, which is ultimately a good thing,' said Commander Jeffery Barnard, APD Investigative Services Division.
APD said that at any given time, bait cars are spread throughout the city, and crime tends to go down after an arrest is made. 'It can vary on a weekly basis. Sometimes, yes. Sometimes it takes a little bit longer, and you get multiple arrests in the area. But eventually, I think what we're able to do is we're able to locate the people that are stealing those vehicles in those areas and then we see the reduction in that area specifically afterwards,' said Barnard.
As for how APD decides to place bait cars, Barnard said, 'I mean, so generally, I know we've talked about Duke City stats before, so we do weekly analysis of where every vehicle is stolen in the city, what types of vehicles are stolen. So we look at that data and we try to put bait vehicles and the matching type of vehicle in those areas that would make sense for what's been stolen in those areas.'
There is usually a sign nearby warning potential thieves that there's a bait car in the area. 'I think we try to advertise we have bait cars out there because we want people to know that if you steal a vehicle, you're going to get caught, you're going to get arrested, and you're going to go to jail for it,' said Barnard.
Some still try, as in a recent undercover operation when police said Johnathan Hedgecock and Dominic Garcia made a deal with an undercover detective to trade guns for a stolen car, which was actually a bait car. Their arrests, leading to the seizure of 3 guns, 300 fentanyl pills, meth, heroin, and cocaine.
APD did say that they have seen a decrease in juveniles stealing bait cars, after an online viral trend known as 'the KIA boys challenge' has died down.
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