 The unmarked cars will be left in known crime hot spots |
Police in Devon say car crime will be taking a back seat with the launch of an innovative new scheme. The Devon and Cornwall force is unveiling a "cop car scheme" on Monday, in a bid to reduce vehicle crime in the Torbay area.
Unmarked cars, known as covert capture vehicles, have been fitted with satellite tracking and video equipment.
If the car is tampered with the culprit is video-taped and a signal sent to police to let them know where it is.
Car sticker
Officers can then track the vehicle, remotely activate the locks, immobilise the engine and apply the brakes.
Police say there was an increase of more than 15% in thefts from cars in Torbay in the past year.
The unmarked cars will be left unattended in known hot spots to catch people committing car crime.
But a police spokesman says the cars will act as deterrents to potential thieves.
Sgt Jim Hinchliffe said: "The fact that criminals will not know whether or not they are breaking into a car which will record their every move will clearly make them think twice."
Leaflets and posters advertising the scheme are being distributed around Torbay and motorists are being encouraged to put a sticker in their car which says: "Is this a covert capture car?" in a bid to steer thieves away.
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