A while ago, British TV show Swag (by Madonna's hubbie Guy Ritchie, btw) staged a trap for would-be thieves. They parked a cargo truck with its door open, revealing a tempting assortment of goodies inside. When the bandit went in for a quick steal, they closed the door and unravelled the cargo truck's covering to reveal a mobile cage!
Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] - Thanks wade7!
Here's another example: Thief trapped behind a security glass door after attempting to steal toilet paper in Redfern, Australia.
but you're right I think they had somehow to exchange a disclaimer with thief charges dropping.
good legal case if the guy does not want it : you're going to prison for stealing, but with wads of cash for kidnapping, humiliation and whatnot... I guess you have to think about it. what's the ROI?
Then I thought "Hm, if he is a criminal, what are the chances he'd have a gun or something?"
@Roger, re: entrapment - don't police do it all the time? They just call it a "sting operation".
No, they were a television show and they paraded this man around a city.
Christophe: I know the guy started it, and the video is a very funny just reward. It just seems blatantly illegal to kidnap someone, criminal or not. There must be some legal loophole that allows them to do this, like a citizen's arrest. Even so, I would think doing so exposes the producers to legal liabilities which far outweigh the ROI from one prank.
There must be some more background on this out there somewhere...
Some legal complication, perhaps?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB8fTIsIG6Q
Quality isn't great though, but at least you can get the idea.