If it works for Nascar, why not car thieves?

I flew down to the LA last night today for some meetings today. Got to the hotel room, flipped on the TV, and found that all the local news stations were running live video of a high-speed car chase. The news helicopter had a clear view of some busted-up Acura (I think) tearing through city streets.  For a solid twenty minutes the screen was filled with a live picture of this car, and its plain, unadorned roof.  There should have been an advertisement on it -- Champion spark plugs; Billy's Bail Bonds; something like that. I mean, you can't buy programming like that.  All I'm saying is that the bad guys are missing out on a nice revenue stream.