Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-18
GOING AFTER AUTOMOBILE THIEVES
M rnEDEnic i. uAskIA.

he is looking for is in the light, med
ium or heavy class. If he Is looking
for a aPckard, he can eliminate mos,
81 the passing machines on the score
OF size alone. Dealing only with the
heavy cars, his problem IL at once mar.
rowed down. Among the heavy models
he knows that the Packard carries It's
tall-ilght Tar over TO the left on tho
left mud guard. while the Pierce-Ar-
row. another possibility, Is eliminated
ny the Tact that tn" tail-lght is placed
NJ point opposite the middle Of the
rear axle. lie notes the other minor
points. the size OF the doors the gaso-
iine tank. and so or, until he has posi-
lively identified the make and model
he is looking for. Then he may stop
the suspected machine while he con-
suits the description of the stolen car,
giving individual peculiaritics. such as
dchtcd rud guard or rncndcd ton
Chcnp Cnrs Generally Taken.
me most diihcult car 10 recover liz
one OF the cheap and common model
OF which there are many Thousands on
the streets. In fact recent police err
perience shows TINT most Of the thefts
are being confined TO such machines
'aHoritc device or motor thieves Is
the rebuilding OF several stolen care nv
eHchhnGin ing parts from one TO the other
SUCH work In case of more capeu.tvr
models IL much moro difficult than In
me case or a cheap machine, and calls
ior an expert mechanic. Most OF the
men ~ once able and unscrunulou.
enough for the business have been
landed behind the bars IL ia .l.o
much easier to identify a big rsncr
siVe ears than one Of cheap and cor.
respondinSl? common model Henc.
thl2ves are working almost entirely in
the latter Gas. "
This practice OF interchangins part.
from different cars suggests q s,on
By which the owner can bc of rre,r
assistance In the recovery OF stolen
PROPERTY and the conviction Of the Of
lender. lie can make "A note of the
factory number OF every part OF his
car--not only the motor, but the mag
neto, the carbure,or. ana so on II.
can mark the body III some incon-
Srlcuous place IN distinguishing
way Thus he Will he able TO swear
not only TO his machine as a whole II
| mas peeh stolen and a suspect taken.
but also TO any part OF IL lie can give
inc pollce something TO work on.
Rarely Caught In the Act.
Inc motor thief is rarely caught in
I the act OF taking car. Hc has his
business too we'll systcmatized for
mat lie does not step into an attrac-
1--WE looking machine ana drive OFF
| With II. His usual procedure Is 10
observe carefully the habits of the
| owner He makes himself familiar
! with the routine of the latter. He then
selects moment when the car is
! habitually left standing before a GER
! tain door for some time. so that he can
count not being surprised and on
| having an hour or so to get we'll out
OF the neighborhood. He supplies him
| self with switch-key for starting If
| the one in the car is removable. or
with key 10 open the lock IL the
! switch IL locked. Then lie drives TO
| his garage. makes as many altera-
: in I.,u
deems necessary, and after few days
motors leisurely out Of the city to
| some country town where he makes a
sacrifice sale. His great problem is 10
get safely out OF metropolitan limits
| That is where the newly-trained traf-
| fic policemen come in.
| Another wise move In fighting the
motor thief is being made in the climi-
| nation Of the reward system Former
! ~ the great idea of the owner or of
| the company which insured the car
against theft, was TO get the machine
| back and no questions asked a man
| or an insurance company losing 4;
| $4,000 car was much more anxious 10
recover II than to convict the thief 4
liberal reward would be advertised
along with a promise to drop the
matter If the car were returned Such
| policy was badly mistaken and short
sighted. Many OF the thieves made a
practice of stealing cars for the
express purpose OF returning them on
the offer of a reward and promise
Of safety.
Now the insurance companies have
agreed to offer no more rewards in
New York City, and as practically
every car is insured against theft, they
have the situation in their own hands
BY taking few losses for the mo-
mcnt. they arc cooperating with the
police to break up the whole system
~
and romantic day, but the end is In
sight.