What tactic involves an operative engaging in illegal activities to gain the trust of suspected thieves?

The correct response involves recognizing the nature of a tactic designed specifically for deception and infiltration within criminal environments. When an operative engages in illegal activities to gain the trust of suspected criminals, they are actively participating in what is known as a sting operation.

A sting operation is a carefully planned tactic where law enforcement or investigators create a scenario that allows them to catch suspected criminals in the act or to secure incriminating evidence. In these operations, operatives often go undercover and may even engage in criminal acts to demonstrate their reliability or to build a rapport with the suspects. This strategic approach allows investigators to expose illegal activities and gather crucial evidence without raising immediate suspicion.

While the other choices reference other methods—like buy-bust operations, which focus more on making arrests during a controlled drug purchase, or the use of third parties, which generally involves enlisting someone else to gather information—the critical aspect of a sting operation is the direct involvement of operatives in the illegal activities to instill trust and gain access to the inner workings of criminal operations. This distinguishes it from the other options listed, making it the most appropriate choice for the scenario described.