When a strange white truck appeared in their Chicago neighborhood, residents and activists believed the police were involved in a ploy to "bait" people into crime.
Video posted earlier this month showing officers around a white truck filled with expensive shoes circulated the net, according to Vox. Community police watchdog activist Charles Mckenzie of the group God's Gorillas posted a video of the locals confronting officers about the truck.
According to Sole Collector, the truck contained Nike Air Force 1 sneakers and Christian Louboutin shoes. The truck was parked near a basketball court in the Englewood neighborhood. Residents see this tactic as racist. McKenzie claimed the truck was moved to other areas in the neighborhood in an attempt to get someone to steal the valuable goods on board.
“There were a lot of young guys playing basketball,” according to Mckenzie. “Why would they do that in the poorest communities to people who don’t have anything better?”
There was another instance where the truck was spotted a day after Mckenzie's video. An hour-long YouTube video from crime chaser Martin G. Johnson captured police with the vehicle once again in what seems to be a different location. "They want them young boys," he said. "That's what they want."
Over the years, residents have grown to distrust Chicago police for acts of brutality, over-policing and under-policing their communities. Bait trucks have been used nationwide to curve crime in high criminal activity areas and are still employed as small departments receive more resources.
The Chicago Police Department has yet to respond to allegations about the bait truck.
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