Police in Texas have lost a car intended to catch thieves.

Known as a "bait car," police install special equipment in a vehicle and leave it around for a thief to steal.

However, Dallas police say the GPS location unit failed, and now the car's gone without a trace.

Lt. Rick Watson of the Dallas Police Department tells the Associated Press, "The GPS system tells us where they are at and how fast they are going."

"We want the car stolen. Yes, we do. But, then we want it recovered with the individual that stole it."

Pro-active theft prevention

Full accreditation to Thatcham Category 5

Remote vehicle immobilisation

Innovative driver recognition system using Bluetooth technology

Satellite GPS vehicle tracking

SOC from world leading provider, BT redcare

Integration with onboard vehicle computer systems

Pan-European Coverage

Professional installation by VSIB accredited installers anywhere in the UK

So now you really have to carry your phone with you, and what happens when you lose your phone? Also, what if your car is stolen with the phone inside? A better solution would be to include a receiver so that you can text message your vehicle with a special code to disable it every time you leave the vehicle. If the car has a GPS system, why not be able to ping it for its location without alerting the thief?

One out of every 200 registered 1999 Acura Integras was stolen last year, said Chicago-based CCC Information Services Inc., an insurance industry tracker of theft and vehicle damage. The list compares loss claims to the total number of registered vehicles.

The 2002 BMW M Roadster was No. 2 on the list and the 1998 Acura Integra was third. Other vehicles in the top 10 include the 1991 GMC V2500, the 2002 Audi S4 and the 2004 Mercury Marauder.