In El Paso, Texas, it was the promise of an Xbox 360 console and other prizes that lured more than 100 fugitives to their arrests, Police Chief Richard Wiles announced today.
Taking place through the beginning of November, the roundup was executed by the U.S. Marshals Office and El Paso Police.
Many people wanted on criminal warrants, usually linked to violent crimes or drug charges, were led to believe that they had won an Xbox 360. When they showed up to claim their prize, they were arrested.
The operation resulted in 115 arrests, clearing 129 warrants. It also resulted in the collection of $25,686 in outstanding traffic fines.
“To do the things that we’ve done in this community in regards to the crime level, it really takes thinking outside of the box,” Wiles told El Paso Times.
“We have a lot of different ideas and we are willing to look at them no matter how crazy they sound from time to time. If we can do them legally, and it has an impact like this one does and it save the taxpayers money like this one does, then we are willing to implement it or give it a shot,” he said.
