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COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — Police used a purse equipped with a GPS tracking device tucked inside a decoy car to lead them to a pair of suspected car burglars.
Sgt. Ryan Shosted said Friday detectives placed the decoy car in a lot near 2900 East Cottonwood Parkway after several car burglaries in the area.
“We make sure (the area) gets extra attention so that we can try to catch people,” Shosted said. “People drive around all the time looking for things in vehicles.”
Investigators learned Wednesday that the decoy car had been raided and were able to follow the signal of the GPS device.
Shosted said officers located Travis Patrick Miles, 20, and Allison Briana McEntire, 24, in a vehicle that was listed as stolen and arrested the two on suspicion of theft and burglary of a vehicle.
“Yeah, they had no idea,” Shosted said. “No, they weren’t happy about it.”
A jail booking statement said Miles admitted to stealing the car and driving with McEntire to break into the other vehicle.
Shosted said the potential for a GPS tracking device in a decoy car serves as a deterrent to car burglars and thieves.
“We want them to realize that there’s a good potential if you’re in Cottonwood Heights, you’re going to get caught.”
