OK, who would get arrested? How many 8 year olds would get arrested?

[RB TexLa]

NYPD says Operation Lucky Bag stings have snared nearly 300 people

BY TRACY CONNOR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, December 6th 2007, 4:00 AM

The NYPD revealed Wednesday its Operation Lucky Bag stings have snared nearly 300 people - many of whom had no rap sheet before they fell for the ruse.

Since the start of the year, there have been 100 arrests as a result of the decoy operations, in which an undercover officer "drops" a wallet, iPod or cell phone in a subway station and cops pounce after it's picked up.

Police said 58 of those busted had rap sheets, while 42 had clean records.

There was a similar breakdown in 2006, when 188 were arrested. The NYPD said 101 had prior arrests while 87 did not.

Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne defended the program, saying since it began, subway grand larcenies - theft of more than $1,000 - have been slashed by half.

"Operation Lucky Bag has something to do with it," he said.

He said straphangers are arrested if it's obvious they had no intention of returning the property - for instance, if they pocket the cash in the wallet.

For almost every person busted, there was a good Samaritan who actively tried to return the wallet to the undercover who dropped it moments before or to a nearby uniformed officer.

Browne said people who picked up the wallet but did not remove the cash were stopped, frisked and checked for outstanding warrants and released.

Photographer Carlos Alayo - whose story appeared in the Daily News Wednesday - fell into that category when he found a wallet at Grand Central last week.

He surrendered the billfold to cops who grabbed him but was still frisked and asked for ID for a background check.

Browne said there was $21 in the wallet; the NYPD does not use credit cards, which would raise the charge to grand larceny.

[thepurpose]

1. Anyone know what the point of this operation is?

[Captain Angry]

6. Revenue baby.

Fines, fees, etc.

It just gives lucky citizens the opportunity to meet members of the local law enforcement team. It's public relations!

[thepurpose]

8. Oh. I 'm all for good PR.

[Nailzberg]

2. I would've given it back. BUT

That is such bullshit. The NYPD has nothing better to do then entrap people on the subway?

[Fredda Weinberg]

7. Unfortunately, yes. Let me explain. NYPD discovered long ago

that by sorting out petty criminals, they reduced other, more serious crimes. For example, catching those who walk between subway cars was associated with a noticeable drop in muggings.

So, where do we draw the line? In this case, those of us smug enough to know we wouldn't keep something that wasn't ours can feel superior. But instinctively, we wonder if we could be caught in a weak moment.

For the cops, there are no other considerations. This kinda thing works and they won't stop until we insist.

[Mojambo]

3. Fucking lame. n/t

[Roon]

4. Back before cell phones were common

my friend found a cellphone in the parking lot of a restraunt. She picked it up and brought the phone in with her and we were seated. The owner of the phone came into the restraunt called from the front desk and made the phone ring. This bitch tried to have my friend arrested. She called the cops and I was like, "Let's get out of here!" But the cops stopped us, took our IDs and ran background checks on our group. The cop finally said that there was nothing he could do and he let us go. I told the cell owner that I was going to sue her ass and she busted out in tears..LOL

[sandnsea]

5. Now this is entrapment

and the absolute biggest waste of money in the history of law enforcement.

[thepurpose]

9. Does anyone have clue what a crime is anymore after this administration?

It's almost as though most of Americans truly don't know.

[MindPilot]

10. Ok let me get this straight...

You're in the subway and you see a wallet on the ground. You pick it up, look around and not seeing the person who dropped it you put it in your pocket. That's a crime?

The idea of handing it over to a cop wouldn't even cross my mind. I might attempt to find the subway station's lost and found or something, but most likely I would take it home and attempt to contact the owner. Which is what I've done in the past, mostly because I KNOW I'm honest--I can't say that about anyone else I may give it to.

But now knowing this I say fuck it; let the next person deal with the problem.

[Suich]

11. They did the same thing at Sea-Tac airport some years back.

They left a purse in a phone booth, then arrested whoever took it. I thought all the cases got thrown out because of entrapment. There was a lot of flack from the public about it, with people asking, didn't the "cops have anything better to do?"