Auto theft continues to be a major problem everywhere in the United States. Most stolen cars end up in chop-shops where they are disassembled and the parts find their way to resale in the legitimate auto parts market.

Whether you’ve had a car stolen or not, this criminal traffic is costing you money because auto loss claims are reflected in everybody’s insurance rates.

In Columbus, Ohio, police have a new and unusual way of dealing with auto theft. Ohio cops are using what they call "bait cars." These are cars that are in great demand by car thieves — cars like the Camry and Honda Accord.

Cops fit their "bait cars" with all the accessories thieves are known to look for, but the cars also have hidden cameras.

When a thief jumps into a "bait car" he is observed on camera by a surveillance team from nearby. Shortly after the thief drives away, the team disables the engine by an electronic remote control which also automatically locks the car’s doors.

But there’s more. These Ohio cops have a sense of humor. Imagine the crook sitting behind the wheel of a car he’s just stolen. Suddenly, the car quits and the crook finds himself locked in. Next, a cassette tape comes on loudly playing the reggae-inflected tune:

Bad boys, bad boys!
Whatcha gonna do?
Whatcha gonna do
When they come for you?

The music is, of course, the theme song from the popular Fox television show, "*C*O*P*S*." The theme song is activated by a watching cop who presses a button on a remote device as the stolen car rolls to a stop. Police say the expressions on the crooks’ faces when they first hear the theme song is priceless.

Do Columbus cops think their sting works well? Judge for yourself. They arrested 10 crooks during the first two days of the sting operation.