Photo: RCMP

"Bait packages" placed in Surrey malls over the Christmas shopping period lured Grinches and Good Samaritans.

Surrey RCMP's Property Crime Target Team placed shopping bags containing name brand electronics and jewelry boxes in food courts and seating areas. Plainclothes officers conducted surveillance to see if any thieves would take advantage of the situation. 

During the five-day project, three male suspects ranging in age from 32 to 35 were arrested for theft of a bait package. All the subjects had criminal records and have been released to appear in court at later dates.

But, investigators were pleasantly surprised by seven Good Samaritans who saw the unattended packages and turned them in to customer service or security, or simply watched over them in hopes of the owner returning.

“This is the first time our Property Crime Team has done a bait package project in Surrey,” says Staff Sgt. Mike Hall. “Only having three subjects steal the package compared to the seven individuals who did the right thing was quite refreshing, especially around the holiday season.”