Crime & Safety
North County Car Thief Went for Bait, County Police Say
Police said the man tried to steal a bait car in unincorporated North County just south of Dellwood.
A North County man faces criminal charges after stealing a car owned by St. Louis County on Tuesday, St. Louis County Police said.
Joseph Degraffenreid, 18, of the 4500 block of Behlmann Grove Place in North County, was charged with stealing a car Tuesday.
“It was actually a bait car,” said Sgt. James McWilliams, a spokesman. “They see that the car has been activated and notify corresponding officers nearby.”
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Bait cars often are equipped with GPS, remote kill switches and door locks or video surveillance technology. The car was stolen from the Bon Oak and Chambers Road intersection in unincorporated North County just south of Dellwood.
“We have been using the bait car program since 2003, and it’s had great success with numerous arrests,” McWilliams said. “We have a large number of bait cars in our fleet with different makes and models. These cars are being used all the time.”
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Bond for Degraffenreid was set at $7,500, cash only.
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