Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-07-03
BOLD CAR THIEVES
Tricks Of the Clever Crooks That
Steal Automobiles.
DARING IN THEIR METHODS.

Openly Tow the Car Away--ordI.
nary Safeguards Are . Joke 10 Thorn.
The man who steals an automobile II
ono OF the cleyercst mechanicians 10
the country. Ito knows every mako Of
car from the steering wheel 10 tho tires.
and there n scarcely amy precaution
taken by tho owner OF tho cur 10 safe.
guard his property that tho automobile
thief cannot beat
some car owners fondly imagine that
when they chain the wheel of their car
with fairly thick steel chain they
have made II impossible for any crook
10 move the auto from its anchorage.
The simplicity Of this safeguard must
cause hilarity among tho motorcaf
crooks. for the ordinary steel chain can
be cut In a second with tho appliances
that the motor thieves carry In their
outfit.
But most car owners consider they
have made tho car immovable by mere.
iy locking the switch box. II WIN inter
est them 70 know that the car thieves
can beat this precaution very easily.
The clever mechanician who makes q
business OF stealing cars can cross
wires 70 ~ 10 cause ignition and move
the engine without bothering with tho
switch box at oil. A method that II kin
dergartcn 10 tho car thief In TO connect
wires from the dry cell battery direct
10 tho ignition coil. thus starting tho
motor without dificuity.
Some cara have devices by which the
gasoline supply eau be locked. and this
Ia regarded by some owners AZ placin.
q hopeless barrier In the way OF the
thief who would run OF with the
standing car. For how can chr be
moved when the supply OF gasoline In
shut offf Nothing easier. The motor.
car thief carries with him his own sup.
ply OF gasoline IN u aask. With this
gasoline the automobile thief can ncgo.
tiate u good run with the ear by con.
Meeting his dask OF gasoline direct 10
the cnrburetor. Feeding tho gasoline
10 tho carburetor through a rubber
hose, the automobile thief can send the
cur sufficiently Ear 20 enable him TO put
the gasoline tank and the car IN rcgu.
lar commission and speed where he
win 10 safety and n sale.
but the commonest and therefore the
safest trick OF the automobile thief re-.
duires no expert mechanical knowl.
edge. II simply requires nerve. which
these thieves possess TO an unusual dc.
gree. This trick In the old one OF driy.
Ing M In an auto that looks like ga
rage repair wagon. hitching a rope TO
the car that is 10 be stolen and towing
II away. The thieves dress for the part
IN oil soaked overalis. When they have
selected the car to be stolen. picking
one that In In side street and not like.
ly TO be under the eye OF n policeman
who may have been tipped TO watch
the car. the thieves come up TO the
scene In their old cur. looking like the
ordinary crew sent for from the garage
TO repair car TINT Il In trouble or isn't
working rs well ns It's fastidious owner
would wish.
They allght from their own car and
make great prctense OF examining
tho cur that they intend 10 spirit away,
They remove the hood and scruflnize
the motor. They get out kit OF tools
and tinker for awhile with some part
OF the machinery. II ans one should
happen to be watching them or looking
on from a nelghboring window all the
men do has the appearance OF natural
work By honest workmen from the
repair shop. Presently the men hold
a consultation, pointing TO some par,
Of the motor machinery, and apparent
ly come TO the conclusion that the chi
cannot he started with the tools al
their command, Then they hitch q
rope 10 the car and tow II nway at the
end Of their own car Could anythini
be more simple?
How can you beat such game al
thisf Carrying away part OF the ma
chlncry does not prevent the thieves
from towing the cur AWAY, One SURE
way 10 prevent robbery IL to have thu
car watched, The policeman on tina
patrol will keep an cyc on II " yo'
are only going to make u visit TO SOM
Office building and coming hack In
short time, But II you kecp your ca
in the street the entire day no one caI
watch IT, You are simply taking |
chance with the cnr thieves
There are other ways Of making tn
path OF the motorcar crook as steel
and dlfllcult as possible, One motor
ist believes he hns solved the tble
problem by having slot cut In tn
clutch pedal shaft Through this h
passes bar which he locks So IA
his car has not been stolen. Anothe
way IN 10 remove the rotor Thi
makes II very difficult for any thief I
stcul the car. for he would have I
carry n number OF rotors to be sur
OF having one that would 0t that paI
ticular motor =. Philadelphia Mort
American,
Wanted 10 Know.