LUCKY guy!

I find it very hard to believe that a police department would allow the victim any involvement in the apprehension.

Acetoolguy wrote in post #15740509
I find it very hard to believe that a police department would allow the victim any involvement in the apprehension.

Actually I don't.
As bait - if the risk is considered small enough it would not be uncommon.

Where you are possibly right though, is that the "friend" would not normally be a member of the public but a police officer as well.
But given that going via the victim is such an easy way of establishing contact, I cannot see why they would not take this opportunity.