Mastodawn

AI6YR Ben Jul 29, 2025

(UPDATE: ALMOST 100% sure this is a police department bait car. GRRRRRRRR. Good thing I didn't pop the trunk or open the door)

Mystery abandoned car. Paper still there, hasn't been touched. Glove box is locked (reachable from the open window). May be at a standstill, apparently since it is in private property, the property owner (big box retailer's landlord) would have to get it towed and/or report to the police department, as the vehicle has not been reported stolen. Has been there since 2018 or 2019. (note: hmm, maybe it IS a bait car for the local PD?!) #mystery

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BegoniaArizona Jul 29, 2025

@ai6yr Years ago This American Life did an episode on “bait cars” that law enforcement planted to make unwarranted arrests. The episode is called “Bait and Switch” Please be careful! It’s Act One called Neighborhood Watch

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AI6YR Ben Jul 29, 2025

@BegoniaArizona Oh my...

Yeah, not doing anything else here...

https://www.thisamericanlife.org/394/transcript

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Anne Ominous Jul 29, 2025

@ai6yr @BegoniaArizona

in Chicago, the police planted an unlocked truck full of cool clothes in a Black neighborhood, and then arrested people who went for the stuff

https://www.vice.com/en/article/chicago-police-left-a-bait-truck-full-of-nikes-in-a-predominantly-black-neighborhood/

Chicago police left a “bait truck” full of Nikes in a predominantly black neighborhood

The "bait truck" outraged community activists, but the practice of "baiting" with everything from cars to cell phones to porch packages is a common police tactic.

VICE

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AI6YR Ben Jul 29, 2025

@rustoleumlove @BegoniaArizona Holy heck...

"The practice of “baiting” is widespread in American policing to draw out potential criminals, whether it’s using undercover agents to buy or sell drugs or pose as sex workers, or using decoy trucks full of merchandise, cars, bikes, computers or cell phones, or leaving packages with GPS devices on people’s porches. But even when it works and the arrests make headlines, they rarely spark outrage."

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Anne Ominous

@ai6yr @BegoniaArizona

this is the same organization that is well-practiced in 'civil forfeiture' too... to the tune of BILLIONS

the police are just a criminal racket, IMO.
we pay them, and they steal from us and beat us

https://ij.org/press-release/new-report-finds-civil-forfeiture-rakes-in-billions-each-year-does-not-fight-crime-2/

New Report Finds Civil Forfeiture Rakes in Billions Each Year, Does Not Fight Crime - Institute for Justice

ARLINGTON, Va.—Nationwide, civil forfeiture laws put innocent property owners at risk and encourage law enforcement to police for profit, with billions of dollars forfeited each year. So finds the latest edition of “Policing for Profit: The […]

Institute for Justice