The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-05-05
ACCESSORY
THEFTS GO
UNCHECKED
Losses to Motorists
Show Enormous
Increase
LOOTERS ARE
RESOURCEFUL
Auto Owners Hamper
Police By Swapping
Up Bargains

LOSS 70 Detroit motorists thru
the theft OF automobile accessories,
and particularly tires, has reached
an astounding total since Jan. /.
Exact figures are not obtainabie but
police estimate they run into ave
figures
The thievery has been practically
unlimited in scope Thefts have
occurred in the downtown districts
in broad daylight as scores Of ped
estrians passed and police stood
few feet away. In many instances.
cars have been stripped of every
thing movable from tires 20 tops.
With the number OF automobiles
stolen increasing monthly. the &C.
cessory thefts have further compll
Gated the problem confronting the
police. They admit they have not
formulated adequate means OF
checking the depredations.
The percentage OF recoveries has
been small. Police attribute this
partially 10 lack OF cooperation by
motor car owners and the difficulty
in tracing and identifying the ar
ticles taken.
Evidence OF an organized gang Of
thieves stealing systematically has
been uncovered by police in investi-
eating thefts Inability 10 directly
implicate those under suspicion has
prevented arrests. however
Activities OF the thieves have ex-
banded with the coming OF warm
weather. figures show or the 205
complaints Of accessory thefts taken
by the police auto division since the
first Of the year. 50 occurred in
April
Operations Of the thieves have
been conducted with An eye TO eff
cheney, police have learned. One Of
their favorite methods OF working
IL 10 drive up 10 an automobile and
with pincers. plier and shears. snip
or break the fastenings, load the
loot in their machine and speed on
Another scheme is 20 pose rs ser
vice men" OF motor car factories
This was discovered when mo-
torist reported his machine had
been stripped OF rs tires while
parked IN front OF Hotel Statler
The motorist asserted he had caught
the men in the act OF taking OF
one OF the tires. but they explained
they were Service men repairing
debated tire they had noticed
while passing
Great service" he remarked with
enthusiasm as he returned to the
hotel When be came out again
his automobile was resting on the
rims
Numerous instances have been re-
ported where the thieves have
stolen car IN tho downtown sec.
ton, and driving IL 70 the outskirts.
dismantled y Or Joseph Rotten
berg. No 57s Brush 81. is the latest
10 be yicumized IN this way His
car was stolen IN front OF HIS home
Thursday night and found Friday
morning in an alley near Ledyard.
81 and Fourthave. stripped Of
everything easily transportable
Most Of The stolen property Is
disposed % thru small garages and
by personal approach OF motorists
with an Offer 20 SCI them appli-
ances or fires A. prices which ex-
cite suspicion yet arc 20 low a. 10
overcome ali scruples. The latter
is one Of 'he biggest factors with
which police have 10 contend in
their efforts 20 curb the thievery.
'1f motorists would call an ON
Ger when they are asked to buy
tires or accessories az prices obyl.
ously too low. thorc would be more
arrests" Lieut. Parker OF the auto
squad said Saturday ~ little CO.
operation would help us materially
I'm circumvonting the thieves