Rat Trap
A term used by
British police forces to describe a
decoy vehicle used to capture car thieves. The
decoy vehicle was named the 'rat trap' after police noted that the behaviour of the
thief, locked in the car, was similar to that of a
rat caught in a
trap.
A standard model of a 'desirable' vehicle, (such as a BMW, Audi or a Ford), is adapted to aid the capture of a car thief by fitting a fuel cut-off device, self-locking doors and windows and unbreakable glass. Sometimes a tracking device is fitted. The trap is set by leaving the vehicle in a high-risk area and waiting for an unsuspecting thief. Upon gaining entry and driving a short distance, the trap is 'sprung' and the helpless thief will find himself caught.
The use by police of such a vehicle has proved to be highly successful in reducing car crime in the UK. It is also somewhat controversial, raising questions relating to civil liberty and entrapment.