Free Beer! (Not)

[Webb]

Criminals fall for beer sting

Nineteen suspected criminals have been arrested after they were tricked by police who lured them in with a hoax offer of free beer.

Derbyshire constabulary sent letters to dozens of suspects who had evaded detention for several months, inviting them to ring a marketing company offering a free crate of beer. But when suspects called the number, they were unwittingly put through to Chesterfield police station.

A time and date was arranged for the promised free alcohol to be delivered to them, but those awaiting it, at locations in Chesterfield, Staveley, Alfreton, Ilkeston, Sheffield and Nottingham, were duly arrested.

The sting was carried out as part of a month-long campaign targeting serious crime across north Derbyshire. Alleged offences committed by some of those arrested ranged from burglary and robbery to serious sexual assault ...

If the cops knew where they lived (they sent them letters) why didn't they just go arrest them?

[jetprop]

Criminals fall for beer sting

Nineteen suspected criminals have been arrested after they were tricked by police who lured them in with a hoax offer of free beer.

Derbyshire constabulary sent letters to dozens of suspects who had evaded detention for several months, inviting them to ring a marketing company offering a free crate of beer. But when suspects called the number, they were unwittingly put through to Chesterfield police station.

A time and date was arranged for the promised free alcohol to be delivered to them, but those awaiting it, at locations in Chesterfield, Staveley, Alfreton, Ilkeston, Sheffield and Nottingham, were duly arrested.

The sting was carried out as part of a month-long campaign targeting serious crime across north Derbyshire. Alleged offences committed by some of those arrested ranged from burglary and robbery to serious sexual assault ...

If the cops knew where they lived (they sent them letters) why didn't they just go arrest them?

lets see;
they would (try) to escape.
they are SUSPECTS,not actual know culprits...

[Ang2dogs]

OK, got my mug, filler up please [smiley=beer.gif],,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

darn, I should read these post instead of the title!

[Webb]

lets see;
they would (try) to escape.
they are SUSPECTS,not actual know culprits...

1. From American TV - 20 cops in riot gear surround the residence, kick in the door, throw flash bang grenades, yell conflicting instructions at everyone ... not much chance of escape.

From British TV - a single unarmed officer knocks on the door and enquires whether the defendant is available to speak with him.

[ozzy72]

I tried ringing my local cop-shop for some free beers and they told me to get knotted!
I admitted to setting fire to the police station! Ah well I guess they'll be using all that beer to put the fire out [smiley=evil.gif] [smiley=evil.gif] [smiley=evil.gif]

[expat]

lets see;
they would (try) to escape.
they are SUSPECTS,not actual know culprits...

1. From American TV - 20 cops in riot gear surround the residence, kick in the door, throw flash bang grenades, yell conflicting instructions at everyone ... not much chance of escape.

From British TV - a single unarmed officer knocks on the door and enquires whether the defendant is available to speak with him.

[Club508]

I think this is why they did it.
1.The beer sting led police to 19 suspects they had previously been unable to trace. Photograph: Johnny Green/PA
2.It has been very cost-effective as it can take a lot of time and money to track people down

Also, the criminals can always just do something like listen to a scanner or learn the shifts to know if they're coming.  They could also try just doing something like putting hidden cameras near the front of the neighborhood, streaming somewhere to their home, so they can see a few minutes before they get close to the house.  Plus, with stuff like that, I'm pretty sure they expect the suspect to be unaware so they may stop just out of sight and gear up before going the last 1/4 mile into view.

Combine all of that, I'd say they had pretty good reasons, along with the reason of letting the public hear some good news and laugh about it too for once!