The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-12-27
JOYR|DING AUTO THIEF
THIS FELLOW IS VERY BUSY
DAILY IN MANKATO
Steals Cars and Police e
Unable To Lay Their Hands
On Him
"Who is the Joyridins Auto Thief

"Who is the Joyriding Auto Thief
in Mankato?"
This is question that is giving the
local police considerable concern at
the present time. Less than week
ago a Ford car belonging to J. A.
Shell was taken on the street and
later found standing near the armory.
Last Saturday the car belonging to
William Monahan disappeared for
about an hour and was later found
standing on Main street. The same
evening William Klasius reported his
Ford had been stolen from in front
of the Mitchell cafe. 1t was later
found on Parry street.
Ford Car Taken Yesterday.
Yesterday afternoon a Ford tour
ing car belonging to Robert 1. Jones
was taken from Jackson street. The
police gained description of the thief
but he managed to elude their search
es and abandoned the machine before
he was apprehended. A. A. Marquette
reported later in the evening that A
Ford roadster he owned was missing.
This machine was also recovered in
about an hour.
Who Is the Thief?
Some joyrider is apparently making
a practice of taking machines in this
manner. If he is ever apprehended
by the police he is most certain to
come to dire grief. In several cases
neat bill was rolled up in calling
neighboring towns and warning them
to be on the lookout for the missing
machine. Not only is this an expense
but the officers never are certain
when a machine mas actually been
stolen. Most of the Fords taken had
been left with the key in the magne-
to. Owners would do well to take
their keys out when they leave their
cars hereafter.
Police Almost Had Man.
1t appears that the police came very
near to catching the man who took
the Ford car belonging to Robert I.
Jones. While Mr.. Jones was report
ing the theft of the car to the po-
lice the thief evidently drove toward
Glenwood avenue intending to escape
in that direction. He stopped at the
Molohon store at the foot of the ra-
vine and while there Mr.. Jones' two
boys drove past the machine with
horse and buggy. The youngsters
were just returning home from school.
Thief Got Away.
The older of the two recognized
the car as that owned by his parents
and drove the rig up in front of the
car to prevent the driver from get
ting away. Asked what he was do
ing with the machine, the man fail
ed to answer but stated his name was
Jensen. While the boys were get
ting out of the buggy he disappeared
behind the store. He was described
as medium sized man wearing a dark
oVercoat, dark hat, tan shoes and
blue flannel. The boys were of the
opinion he was not more than twen-
ty-five years of age
Police Combed Neighborhood.
AS soon as the police heard of this
occurrence they combed the neighbor-
hood about Glenwood avenue. but
failed to find any trace of the fellow.
1T is thought that this is the same
man who took the Marquette Ford
roadster later in the evening. Mr..
Marquette had about $40 worth of
Christmas presents in the machine
which were missing when the car
was recovered. It may be that the
presents fell out Of the back of the
car while the "joyrider" was making
his little tour