News Currents
Suspicious fires
Two suspects were arrested in relation to at least three of a dozen fires in Benton County, Ark., between June 28 and July 4. The fires were considered suspicious by public officials, though at first investigators were reluctant to definitely conclude arson was involved, according to the Associated Press.
Seven of the fires involved trailers or other structures while six were grass fires, one of which spread to a nearby trailer.
Authorities arrested Samuel Miller and Michael David Hosie in connection with three fires in the Centerton area.
The fires burned about 50 acres, damaged two trailers and burned some cars in a field. In all, the county has recorded at least 12 fires over a period of a couple of weeks.
Investigator Richard Feast says the two suspects admitted to setting three of the fires, using firecrackers. Authorities are looking for a third person.
Source: 2006 Associated Press.
High-tech bait
Shreveport, La. is planning on putting out as bait for thieves cars donated by insurance companies. The cars will be loaded with high-tech equipment police officers can use to track thieves.
In addition to high-tech tracking equipment the bait cars will be equipped with a hidden camera and tape, and a remote-control engine override and door locks.
Police Chief Mike Campbell announced the department’s plans for “bait cars.” He’s hoping they’ll cut the city’s car theft rate, which has risen 15 percent from last year.
“I think it’s going to make a major impact on our vehicle theft problem,” Campbell said.
Car theft is a crime of opportunity. “This is a way for us to be proactive,” Detective Brandon Ortiz said.
He said the bait cars could range from 1980s models Chevrolet Caprices to brand new Cadillac Escalades. Tracking and surveillance equipment can be taken out of one vehicle and put into another if thieves catch on to a particular model or if thefts for a particular type of car go up.
Manpower for the auto theft crackdown should be similar to that of any other call that police respond to, Ortiz said. When a bait car is stolen, dispatch officers will be notified through a computer alarm, and they will send patrol officers to the scene, he said.
Campbell would not specify how many bait cars would be used in Shreveport, but Charlie Peters, a special agent with the National Insurance Crime Bureau, said he hopes more cars will be donated.
Source: 2006 Associated Press.