Evening star., 1897-03-05
Enforcing the Law Against Cyclists
and for Their Protection.
RECOVERY OF STOLEN MACHINES
indication of the Great Number of
Different Makes.
BLUECOATS AS PEDALERS S

The police of all of the large cities have
been brought To face situation of
affairs since the bicycle came into general
use. Not only did il become necessary to
enforce laws for the regulation of the cy
cists but il also had 10 enforce the laws
looking toward their protection In the
first instance the matter was easy. but the
second was more difficult. owing TO various
complications. Up 10 within about two
years ago the loss of bicycles through theft
did not occasion any great amount of
bother to the police officials of the cities.
and the work of hunting down the thieves
would we'll he pursued in connection with
the other work of the officials Another
thing. very few of the memb. rs of the po-
lice force were acquainted with bicycles in
any way. outside of seeing them as Il whole
ridden the streets Iy individuals. They
were ignorant of the construction and
the difference in the various makes as it
was possible TO be.
Now things have changati. Everybody
even the police themselves. has taken to
the use of the wheel. Like everything else.
the more general their became The
greater the number of thefts
ported. and So much more work was added
to their la bOrS- Then the time came when II
was recognized that a special department
should be created for the purpose of han
ding bicycles. That is. keeping separate
all those recovered through the vigilance
Of the police. and make a general crusade
sCainst the fraternity that finds easy
hing i'll stealing bicyci5. and oftentime=
equally easy a thing in ,.isposing of the
plunder- Philadelphia was one of the first
titles of the country To take the initiative
IN the matter New York followed. Chicago
came into line. and Washington is not left
out in the cold.
This recognition of the bicycle by the po-
hce department speaks volumes in Its favor
The police found il hard to accort il such
privileges There was time when they
Were opposed to it. and tlaSsel u with
wagons. carriages and other wheeled
l7icles, but the bicycle soon outclasseG all
of its companions. as ii has outclassed its
companions in the patent office. where it
was linked to the division having the har-
veSting machines. and where il will shortly
get into class of its own III fact. Major
Moore chief of the police of this city. In
has last annual report. refers TO the bicycle
and other vehicles in the following Ian
guaee:
The principal feature pertaining: TO the
disposition of lost and stole,I property was
the unprecedented number of bicycles and
similar vehicles recovered by The police and
returned TO their owners. A few years ago,
before the introduction or these. machines
became general. when horses. hugsirs and
wagons prevailed as means of transpor-
tation for business and pleasure. the loss
OF bicycle was rarely reported. while
estray and stolen animals came into the
keeping of the department almost daily.
This condition has changed Genius has
releSated the horse to Ghe rear and All
Vanced the more modern means of transit
that the bicycle club. the police bicycle
squad. soldiers mounted on bicycles. mes
seugers, delivery men, physicians. in fact.
representatives of -y"ry STATION nj life.
over the SUPER IT streets and road
ways of the District to Tine aggregate of
fifty odd thousand.
While the trade Of the carriage and
wagon manufacturer and that OF the liv-
cry man has enormously deprecated. the
labors Of the police have been greatly in
creased by this general adoption of The
bicycle Especially adapted 10 be stol. n.
they are readily ridden away. :nipped lay
railroad. disfigUred. the various Uarts of
one bicycle often being distributed TO COM
Tlete the action Of others OF different make
so as to destroy the identity of ,he prop
erty. Notwithstanding the multiplicity of
such thefts. the bicycle tai-f is fast be-
coming well known TO the pole, and the
destruction Of the identity of the machine
a most difficult task to perform So ex-
tsnsIve has the bicycle become within the
past two years that the departm mt has
assigned detective. Nr Rob=rt H. Board
nan 20 give especial attsntion and study
"a the matter Its efforts hal their re-
ward. and not only have numerous thieves
been convicted, but a vast and valuable
lot Of property secured The eXpesIiency of
marking several parts Of the bicycles Is en-
phasized. particularly when 4 rider has
lost II and has no marks by which TO
describe it, Losses 10 owners have HHt
been confined to their machine but lamps.
wrenches. bells handle bars. tool bags and
the various bicycle accomplishments have
fallen within the category OF theftS and
recOyeriss-"
According to the report Of the police FOR
the fiscal year ending June -. 1885,, thc7c
were 1!j wheels reported stolen, III of
which were recovered by the police while
- were recovered by the owners. making a
total of 1Ii wheels IN all recovered, an
excellent showing. indeed. The smallest
number Of wheels reported Stolen was in
March Of last year, when six names were
registered The largest number of thef;s
occurred in May Of last year, when twenty
cycles were reported stolen.
In 1896 234 Wheels Were stolen
The figures for the entire year of 1899
flave just been complied. and will prove
additionally interesting From January ]
10 December 81 OF last year there were
"a bicycles stolen, of which number 12s
were recovered. leaving lo6 still out. There
is no doubt that quite a number have Eeen
recovered by the owners and Others but
there Is no record of such on the books al
detective headquarters. From calculations
Il i estimated that at least one-third of
the number. a fair estimate. were recover
ed by the owners. which would be ~ added
10 IL, making d total OF Iiri bicycles re-
covered, leaving II unaccOunt-d for. a
majority Cf the wheels reported stolen
picked VI the streets by officers and
citizens. when they have been -,ban lo1ed
hy the thieves. In all there We're - ar
rests made by the detective bureau in the
bicycle stealing lire.
\ condensed abstract Of the wheels stolen
within the past N months Will prove in
teFeEtIng.
jny. lsIS- ----.----- May. 1s:-6. 6........... 2n
A'I-lsi- le:t'- II JuIr. 1875. -
Ss'ttsHt"-- l>sJ---.- II July. 1>.G....-......
ts-t"i--- lS.t,.--.-- - August. 1886 -.-.... ~
'tvniN"r, Is,'5----. il S-Ieiub..-. %
it-s"fJisF. 1>.tl-..... IA October. fSS;.
Iauuary- 1s.-'----.-. November. IS.G- ..... Is
february. 1s9-j .-... IL December Is,y; " u
March. 1880. -...... q
A.ril- le:",---- 1o Grand total ........3 .3I2
The above table is interesting in moro