Surrey RCMP say a 鈥渉oliday bait package鈥� project has uncovered the city鈥檚 naughty and nice.

In the weeks leading up to Christmas the Mounties鈥� Property Crime Target Team (PCTT) conducted a project in two local malls with 鈥渟omewhat surprising results.鈥�

Police said PCTT investigators placed packages containing 鈥渘ame brand electronics and jewelry boxes in bags鈥� from local merchants in areas around the shopping mall 鈥渟uch as the food court and seating areas.鈥�

Plainclothes officers kept watch over the packages to see if any thieves would take advantage of the situation.

RCMP said that during the five-day project, three men were arrested for alleged theft of a bait package. The three suspects, police said, 鈥渉ad a history of property crime or related criminal code offences.鈥�

Those men have all since been released to appear in court on later dates while the investigations continue.

But the project came with some good news, too.

Investigators said they were 鈥減leasantly surprised by the number of Good Samaritans鈥� who saw the unattended packages and turned them into a customer service booth or a security guard. Some 鈥渟imply watched over the package in hopes of the owner returning.鈥�

Police said 鈥渢hese simple acts of kindness鈥� happened seven times throughout the bait package project.

鈥淭his is the first time our Property Crime (Target) Team has done a bait package project in Surrey,鈥� said Staff Sgt. Mike Hall, acting pro-active enforcement officer.

鈥淥nly having three subjects steal the package compared to the seven individuals who did the right thing was quite refreshing, especially around the holiday season.鈥�

lauren.collins@surreynowleader.com
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