St. Louis police outline new anti-crime programs

ST. LOUIS -- The city's police department said Thursday it has started two new programs to combat such street crimes as robbery, carjackings and vehicle break-ins.

One initiative is a so-called bait car program, in which vehicles equipped with global satellite tracking and surveillance systems will be placed in areas with high rates of car theft or vehicle tampering.

If an attempt is made to steal a bait car, police can use the system to locate the vehicle, lock it and shut off the engine.

In addition, a new 30-member Anti-Crime Task Force also will use decoy vehicles for undercover work throughout the city.

Both programs had been in the works since before a recent rash of bold carjackings and street confrontations. They reflect an aggressive approach being taken by the department to curtail street crime, Police Chief Joe Mokwa said in a statement.

"Even with significant reductions in violent crimes across the city, auto theft is up 25 percent," Mokwa said.

St. Louis police plan to continue their Most Violent Offenders Program, which began in the fall of 2001 and is targeted at neighborhoods with high levels of violent crime.