Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-04-30
HOW THE TRICK is TURNED
Eastern Automobile Thieves Classed
as Cleverest Of Present Day
Crooks.
NO UNMATCHED CAR is SAFE

The man who steals an automobile IL
one Of the elovorest rnechanicians IN the
country. lilo knows every mako OF car
from the steering wheel to tho tires, and
there is scarcely any precautlon taken
BY tho owner OF the car to safeguard
his property that the automobile thief
cannot beat
some car owners fondly imagine that
When they chain the wheel on their car
WIN fairly thick steel chain they have
made u impossible for any crook n
move the auto from It's anchorage. Tho
simplicity Of this safeguard must causo
hl'aflly among the motor-car crooks, for
me ordinary steel chain can be cut in n
second with tho appliances that tho
motor thieves carry In their outft.
But most car owners conslder thew
nave made the car immovnble bv merely
locking the switch box II Will lnteres,
lhom 70 Know that the car thieves have
ipund way 10 beat this prccaItion very
easily Tho clever meehanlciap wbo
makes q business OF BtenllnR cara can
eross wires 10 as 10 cause ignition and
move NE engine without botherlng with
me switch box at oil. method Tint "a
hlndergarten 10 The car thief IL 70 con.
pect wires from the dry coll battery Al.
rect TO the ignition coil. thus startiro
me motor without difficulty.
EnEy When fon Know How
some cars have devices by which tbo
easoline supply can be locked. and this
7 recorded by some owners M placing
hopeless barrier III The way OF ~
tiicf who would run Off with Inc stand
ing car, For how can q car be moved
when the supply Of gasollnc ia anu ofeg
Aotiilng easier. The motor.car thlcf css.
RES with him bis own supply or eaaoltno
~ bucket. with this gallon Or 30 81
gasoline, The automobile thief can ma.
eotiato fifteen-mllc run with lie en-
ny connecting his bucket Of gasoline Al.
eet with the earburefor through rub.
". nose. The automobile thief can aend
heBfaf far from the scene Of lts former
Atation' sufficiently far 70 enable hin,
put the gasoline tank ana tie car il
regular commission and speed where he
VIII to safety and q sale
but Tho eotnmonest aud, therefore the
safest trick Of the automobile thief re-
CURES no expert mechanical knowledge
y simply requires nerve. which these
thieYcs possess 10 an unusual degree
This trick n the old one Of driving 10
IN an old auto that looks IIko garage
repair wagon, hItehIng a rope 10 the car
that ~ to be stolen and towing II away
The thieves dress for the part in OIL.
soaked oycralls. When they have seIected
The car 70 be stolen. picking ono that
is IN side street and not likely 10 be
under the eye Of policeman who may
have been tipped to watch the car. the
Thieves como ~ TO the scene In their
old car. looking like the ordinary crew
sent for from the garage 10 repair a
car that IL In trouble or isn't working
M well ns its fastidIous owner would
wish.
How They Work.
They aiight from their own car and
make . great protense Of examining The
car that they intend TO spirit away They
remove the hood and scrutInzo the motor.
They get out n kit Of tools and tinker
Tor awhile with Soma part Of the ma
chihery IL any one should happen 10
Pc watching them or looking on from !.
nelshborlnK window all the men do has