AI6YR BenJul 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

Show threadAI6YR BenJul 29, 2025
Hmm, now I think it IS a bait car. Hope my checking for registration isn't going to get me in trouble. I called the police department to report it, and they weren't interested in a report. They said to call the manager of the store there. I called the manager of the store, and he made up some story, and then I said it's been there for years and it has expired plates, and he said "okay, thanks". I am now kinda thinking this absolutely is a bait car 😡 #baitcar #policing #mystery
Show threadScott Miller 🇺🇦 🇺🇸Jul 29, 2025

@ai6yr It might be a police bait car, but do you know personally it's been unmoved for more than 5 years, or are you guessing that based on something else.

I'd think that if it doesn't get stolen within say 2-8 weeks, they'd be smart enough to realize it didn't work, to try again somewhere else.

The store manager's reaction seems weird, but probably ordinary, like they have a buddy working overseas that is too cheap/broke to pay for storage.

Show threadAI6YR Ben
@scottmiller42 Registration expired in 2019
Jul 29, 2025 at 9:58pmWeb
Show threadScott Miller 🇺🇦 🇺🇸Jul 29, 2025
@ai6yr Yeah, expired tags and dirty feels like something they'd have on a bait car to make it feel abandoned/ripe for theivery. But if it's really been there over a year, I'm inclined to think not.
Show threadAI6YR BenJul 29, 2025
@scottmiller42 Either that, or it's the manager's buddy storing a car there.
Show threadScott Miller 🇺🇦 🇺🇸Jul 29, 2025

@ai6yr Ayup. And the window open... I had an old car with power windows. The window sagged and I determined the mechanism broke. A buddy helped me take interior panel off and wedged it closed with some 5 gal paint stirrers. After living with it like that a couple weeks, I decided I didn't want to pay the estimated cost of repair for a rear window on a car that close to the grave.

My point is, some plastic bit may have broke and the window sagged on buddy's car.