So good it’s criminal: the Christmas hamper sting
WITH Christmas rapidly approaching, detectives knew the offer of a free hamper full of extravagant treats and bottles of wine would prove difficult to turn down.
Indeed, almost 70 suspected criminals fell for the ruse after South Yorkshire Police reeled them in with a false offer suggesting they had been selected to receive such a gift.
Officers sent fake vouchers to the last-known addresses of more than 400 suspects wanted for crimes including burglary, drinkdriving, drugs offences and harassment, asking them to phone in to arrange a delivery slot with Herald Hampers, a fictitious firm.
The old-fashioned sting was deemed a great success after around 12 per cent of the suspects fell for the ruse and unknowingly got in touch with the police to let them know when they would be home.
Detectives managed to arrest 21 of them in two days, on Monday and Tuesday this week, after they confirmed their identity on the doorstep before being invited to step outside to the van to select their wines.
Warrants had been issued for the arrest of the suspects, who had failed to appear at court, for crimes including cruelty to animals, possession of an imitation firearm and burglary.
Det Chief Insp Lee Berry, who oversaw the operation, said it had been a great success and sent a message to those who had not yet been
‘One who fell for the sting said it was the best way he’d ever been arrested’
arrested that the police “know who they are and where they are”.
He told The Daily Telegraph: “The cost of sending out the cards was minimal compared to the time and money in sending officers to look at each address, when many would be old.
“Around half of the 65 who responded have now been arrested, either when we targeted them on the doorstep or later through conventional tactics, and have already appeared in court.” DCI Berry said one was remanded in custody and one sentenced to six months in prison while others were fined or had curfews issued.
“Some of them were drink-drivers who had been disqualified,” he added.
“Collectively, those warrants have been outstanding for seven and a half years, which has a big impact on the victims of crime and is a big drain on resources. We want these people to feel as uncomfortable as the victims of crime do when they wake up in the morning.”
DCI Berry said he had received positive feedback from the public as well as some from the criminals themselves.
“One of those who fell for the sting said it was the best way he’d ever been arrested,” he said.
“Another one said ‘you sly t------’, which I took as a seal of approval.”
DCI Berry said that they decided to go public with the ruse to send a positive message to the public but insisted that they would be looking at equally innovative ways to catch suspects in 2018.