APB: Don’t Let Criminals Pull a Fast One
Budding criminals will do just about anything to pull the wool over the eyes of law enforcement and the public.
In this issue, Kentucky Law Enforcement magazine launches a new feature called APB. It is designed to assist Kentucky officers in identifying issues related to safety and criminal activity. It will be a short, one-page story on tactics criminals may use to evade or potentially injure police.
In the area of drug trafficking, those involved are always looking for ways to conceal contraband from police. Most of their tricks are well known, but it’s still good to keep those methods in mind when policing.
One of the more popular, according to stonewalltactical.blogspot.com, is masking odors. Telltale signs include air fresheners, which hang from the rearview mirror, to more elaborate attempts such as bottles of cologne or perfume that have been recently sprayed prior to, or during, a traffic stop.
Maybe it’s an open bag of scented pipe tobacco, lying in the vehicle, but you noticed the people inside the car are smoking cigarettes. Or perhaps you’ve seen a driver lighting up a cigarette after being pulled over and filling the vehicle with smoke but he or she has no desire to roll down a window. These are examples of attempts to mask odors.
Officer Friendly?
You notice a vehicle has a “police association” bumper sticker or items proclaiming cops are cool. Ah, they must be on the up and up, right? Not so fast. Traffickers will use these items as a ruse to gain favor with the officer, but remember, it’s an attempt at pulling a fast one. The same goes for religious bumper stickers, symbols and Bibles placed throughout the vehicle. While the person in the vehicle may be on the up and up regarding their faith, don’t assume anything. It could be someone smuggling in 80 pounds of vacuum-sealed pot under their vehicle’s carpet.
However, keep in mind that law enforcement officers must always have reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle.
These attempts show that nowadays criminals will do just about anything to fool law enforcement.
Has your agency seen anything like this? Maybe a disguised weapon or something hidden in plain sight, such as a book with a center portion hollowed out to hide drugs or other contraband. Or perhaps you have seen a juice box where the contents have been replaced with alcohol or other substances added into it to cause impairment.
If your agency has seen something along those lines and you are willing to share it, we would like to speak with you. Share it on DOCJT’s social media platforms or contact Michael Moore.
