Fla. police lure fugitives with stimulus checks

[August 31, 2009]  MIAMI (AP) -- Police in Florida are using the promise of a stimulus check to make some arrests.

Authorities in Fort Lauderdale say they sent letters to fugitives offering them stimulus money. The suspects were asked to call a hot line and set up an appointment to pickup a check from an auditorium where "South Florida Stimulus Coalition" banners hung.

When the fugitives arrived, they were identified and arrested on offenses ranging from grand theft to fraud to attempted murder.

Police spokesman Sgt. Frank Sousa says the two-day sting was dubbed "Operation Show Me The Money." Sousa says the sting saved man-hours and allowed police to make arrests in a controlled environment.

Sousa said Thursday the department may try something similar in the future.

[Associated Press]

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