More than a dozen suspected criminals have been arrested as
part of an undercover sting operation after being duped into ringing the police
to claim free beer.
Derbyshire Police said the suspects were detained after
officers sent letters to a string of people who had evaded arrest for several
months, urging them to claim a complimentary crate of beer from a marketing
company.
A total of 19 suspects, wanted in connection with a range of
offences including robbery, burglary and sexual assault, fell for the hoax and
called the number on the letters, which put them through to officers based at
Chesterfield Police Station.
Police then arranged a time and date for the free alcohol to be
dropped off, but instead arrested those awaiting free beer at locations in
Chesterfield, Staveley, Alfreton, Ilkeston, Sheffield and Nottingham.
Chief Inspector Graham McLaughlin, who led the operation, said:
"These suspects are people who have managed to evade arrest for some time so we
have used different tactics to find them.
"It has been very cost-effective as it can take a lot of time
and money to track people down.
"We use a variety of methods to arrest those suspected of
committing criminal offences and we will continue to use new tactics when
necessary
Comments
I assume it must have been DUFF BEER!!
It's a local brew down here.
I believe the Police should themselves be prosecuted under the Trades Descriptions Act.
Their marketing material was totally misleading.
;o)
It was in an old Pacino movie, but it was a chance to meet Yankees players.
Might have been Serpico.