The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-04
AUTO THIEVES
ORGANIZED, IS
BELIEF HERE.
~ re Penalties Urged as
Means of Putting End to
Stealing of Cars in City.
~ BILL PRICE.

~ BILL PRICE
Alarming increase in the theft Of
automobiles IN Washington and
throughout the country is giving the
Police Department and owners Of ma
chimes the greatest possible concern.
Unless courts everywhere impose
severe penalties and automobile own
ers exercise greater care, there is no
telling where the business will stop.
There is little doubt in the minds of
police officers that automobile steal
ing has developed into an industry,
the chief factors in which are trained
mechanics who ind it easy to over
come all ordinary precautions and to
make way with machines with very
little trouble.
A strong belief prevails that the IN
dustry is an organized one, having q
central guiding head somewhere, un-
der which the thieves are given what
ever protection is necessary when po-
lice officers get hot on their trailA
Professional Crooks
Il e. certain that the thieves are
not generally Of the common. cheap
variety Of rogues satisfied to get
away with anything Of small value.
Their game is big profits. and that
they succeed il evidenced BY the fact
that automobile thieving il inereas-
ing daily.
Automobile experts assert that
carefully gathered figures show that
more machines are stolen than are
made
The cheaper types Of cars are no
longer sought by the bandftA The
little thief Is picking up small cars.
professional takes only large and
valuable cars Of recent make.
He does not have q confederate 70
dispose Of the stolen car. He makes
getaway from Washington, for In
stance, with good car, promptly
changes the license numbers on IL
from q convenient assortment he car
rfes. and heads for some large city.
There he visits = used car de4leEssnd
explains that his wife does not Ike
that particular style or car and pre-
unable to know that the man Is q
thief and makes the exchange, the
thief paying cash With the new car
the thief returns to Washington or
goes to some other city and sells his
purchase for cash. He has apparent
u q clean bill Of sale
LOeAtnE switch Net Safe.
The mere locking OF the switch of
your car guarantees nothing. These
thieves are experts In mechanics and
electrical connections generally. All
they need TO do - to get under the
hood Of q car and they are able, by
grounding a. wires and by other
means. TO start the engine without
difficulty.
II you wm st god locks for your
hood and your switch. you VIII give
the thief much trouble- Hood locks
are now strongly recommended One
should be p1Acsd on the inside and the
throw The switch or get under the
hood Ghs thief II cheated
AutomObf1s Insurance "a one way to
prevent loSs, but it WIN not prevent
stealing Of CARS
spare tires should also Be ven
locked On machines. Stealing Of these
IS growing fast
Aufnmob1a dealers and oWners
have cone % the conclusion that
manufacturers Of cars should pay
more attention 20 hood locks In the
future
The interesting suggestion Is made
that dealers should give to every pur-
chaser Of q car deed OF sale, with
description Of the machine, much on
the order Of q real estate deed Trans
fer could be provided for on the deed,
but every time q man offered to ex-
change q ear he would be compelled
to present his deed II unknown to
the dealer.
Ne synPG6hy fer Thieves
The hope that the judges Of courts
viii begin to mete out severe punish
Enent to automobile thieves is ex-
pressed on all sideG Too much SYM
patty has been shown these criminals,
On pleas Of first offense, etc. The
thief who steals money or property
valued at $1,000 or $1,000 is sent to
prison for q long term The automo-
Bile theft Il just as serious an Of |
tense, and Is far more irritating to
the owner.
Many courts are taking the view
that severity Of sentences is the only |
hing that Will lessen what Is now
n profession In Ohio recently the |
state board Of clemency refused to |
recommend clemency for an sutomo- |
bile thief, who put forward special |
ss,leaG The board made a distinction, |
however, between the foolish joy
riding youngster, who purloins a car
fhieF. MIN Rfeale 4