But they can't find a stolen bicycle with a gps tracker as the gps information 'may not be accurate'. Similar for phones. /(am in europe)

That's just it, they are doing their own thing. This is why I liked the explanation, it reflects that the police is not an organization that's somehow representing and enforcing a higher moral standard, but rather a distinct thing that has its own life and culture. And that social engineering and parallel construction are part of daily life.