RCMP combatting auto theft with bait vehicle program

Mounties are sharing the results of a bait car program used in Red Deer, Vegreville, Sherwood Park, and other communities last year.

Mounties are ramping up their tactics when it comes to combatting auto theft with its bait vehicle program.

Throughout 2025, bait vehicles were deployed 29 times and resulted in 22 people being arrested – 19 of which were priority offenders – and several traffic safety offences.

The program uses GPS-monitored vehicles placed in strategic locations known to be of high risk for auto theft.

“We’re alerted when a would-be car thief breaks into that vehicle, and then we can deploy assets, police officers, to go and apprehend that vehicle,” said Supt. Mike McCauley at a press conference Tuesday. “We also have the ability to shut that vehicle down to keep the streets safe if things get out of hand.”

Police say that on average, detachments using bait equipment have seen a 33-per-cent reduction in auto theft occurrences following successful deployments.

Tuesday’s press conference outlined the success of the RCMP’s crime reduction strategy which uses the bait vehicle program and other initiatives to apprehend priority offenders.

The RCMP community response team seized $897,000 in illegal drugs in 2025 as well as 27 firearms that resulted in 123 new firearm charges. The team is also responsible for 152 arrest warrants and targeted 88 of the top 100 offenders in the province last year.

McCauley said property crime, including auto theft, break-and-enters, and theft of stolen property is now at a 10-year low.

“There was a 13-per-cent decrease when compared to 2024 and a 32-per-cent decrease as compared to 2016,” he said. “By targeting offenders who cause the most harm in their communities while focusing on the locations that are the most vulnerable, we are able to make a huge impact.”