New York City police have been planting wallets and handbags on streets and in subways and then arresting people who pick them up and don't immediately turn them over to a cop or municipal worker. If a New Yorker finds a wallet and puts it in his pocket, even with the intention of finding its owner, he can be immediately arrested and handcuffed. Credit cards are included in the planted property so that the 'perpetrators' can face up to 4 years in prison. Operation Lucky Bag has led to 220 arrests, and 119 of these people have had no prior arrests. Is it just my imagination, or is this extraordinarily creepy?
ABC News: Operation Lucky Bag: Is It Entrapment?