GALVESTON -- The Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force issued a warning to thieves this week: The next truck, car, four-wheeler or golf cart they swipe may very well be a bait vehicle.
The task force plans to ramp up the use of two bait vehicles after arrests Wednesday of three Santa Fe men on charges of auto theft, Capt. Barry Cook said.
After recovering the stolen bait vehicle at a home at 28th Street and Avenue L, Auto Crimes Task Force members, with the help of Santa Fe and Alvin police officers and K-9 officers, arrested Rickey Linkey, 44; David Herod, 39; and Ernie Scales, 46.
Linkey was charged with felony theft, criminal mischief and engaging in organized criminal activity and was being held in the county jail on bonds totaling $375,000. Herod was charged with the same and was jailed on bonds totaling $300,000. Scales was charged with engaging in organized criminal activity. His bond was set at $20,000.
Cook corrected an initial report the bait vehicle used in the case was a four-wheeler. He said while the task force has been investigating a rash of all terrain vehicle thefts in the county, the type of bait vehicles used for investigations is not made public.
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