RAT Bait/ETS tags

[RolnCode3]

The Sheriff's Dept here has at least 3 active bait vehicles in the north area. A tag just got taken about 15 minutes ago (and bad guys got caught). Just curious if anyone has been picking up the signal from the tags at all. I have the freq programmed, but am too far away to get them (I think).

 

[robert_stroy]

are they using lojack or what

 

[RolnCode3]

different system.

These are the RAT bait tags. They use these when banks get held up to try to track the bad guys (which I have heard successfully done--ended in a shootout). You'll hear them looking for a "triangle" from time to time. i think Lojack is a group of 4 antennas on the roof, and these things use a triangle of 3 antennas. They also have handheld receivers too.

Right now the SO is setting out bait cars for people to break into. Once they break in and take the tag and contents, it activates, and the good guys go looking for them. Heard about 5 activations in the past week, 2 or 3 of them were good ones.

 

[northzone]

219.9

 

[RolnCode3]

Hmm...Win96 keeps changing it to 219.9025. The BC785 allows it though. Will the -96 still pick it up?

 

[robert_stroy]

219.9025. is this a frequencie you can pick this little bait trap up with

 

[RolnCode3]

When the tag is moved, it automatically begins broadcasting a signal on the frequency. There are towers all over the County which listen for this frequency. When the towers go "hot", units begin heading that way to try to pick it up with their in-car equipment (the helicoptors all have this as well).

As far as I know, if you have the frequency programmed into a scanner, you can hear the signal being broadcast. It's probably nothing interesting (just like Lojack), but at least you'd know it's broadcasting. If you had RDF stuff, you could probably follow it around (but don't get involved...bad juju). When the tag gets taken, it's usually only 10 minutes or less before they're behind the suspect vehicle (if they get the signal).

BTW-RAT bait stands for Robbery Apprehension Team. I think ETS means "Electronic Theft Sensor", but I'm not sure.

 

[RolnCode3]

they dinged another guy about an hour ago...they got the activation...while driving down the street, a Deputy said "it was west of me, but it just did a U-turn (car drove past him)...I'm behind a black Toyota pickup" BAM! The stolen golf clubs (tag was inside) are in the back of the truck. Pretty funny to listen to.