Hunting down criminals is a difficult task. What’s even harder? Getting the criminals to come to you. The El Paso Police Department have done just that, luring over a hundred criminals into custody in a week with promises of a free Xbox 360.

Earlier this month, the El Paso PD, along with the U.S. Marshall’s office in El Paso, sent out messages to wanted felons that they had won a free Xbox 360, plasma TV, and/or other prizes. When the criminals showed up at a designated location to claim their prize, they were arrested. According to the El Paso Times, the plan was executed over five days and resulted in the arrest of 115 criminals with outstanding warrants on a variety of crimes, some drug-related or violent. Police Chief Richard Wiles said the operation was launched because more traditional means of arresting criminals had proven unsuccessful.

"I think it is important for the citizens of El Paso to know what the Police Department is doing and what the U.S. Marshal's Office is doing because we do take these outstanding warrants very seriously and we want to put the resources into getting these people behind bars," Wiles said.

I can’t count the number of emails I get per day that tell me I won a contest. It’s pretty entertaining to think that hardened criminals are the only ones who still have some faith in free giveaways. There’s no mention of it in the Times article, but I’m curious as to what games, if any, the police offered with the free 360. How much more effective would the sting have been if Grand Theft Auto 4 was in stores? Or do criminals hate GTA4 and sit around bitching about how inaccurate it is? Questions worth pondering.