Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-01
Auto Thefts Last Year
TotaIed S2,O84,4I5 Here

Captain of Detectives Souder, in
statement today commended Judges Nc
Cormick and Henry, upstate jurists,
who have been sitting in Quarter Ses-
sions Court here, and declared their
speedy. and stern dispensing of justice
had enabled the police to check and re-
duce crime, particularly automobile
thefts, which had become prevalent.
He asserted that inadequacy of the
force had hampered police in their ef-
forts to cope with the crime situation,
and that the severe sentences imposed
saved the situation"
Captain Souders statement follows
During the last month. since Judges
Mccormick and Henry have been sit
ting on the Quarter Sessions bench here,
we have noticed great decrease In
thefts of automobiles. due to the sem
fences meted out by these judges. The
swift trial and conviction of thieves ar
rested In this city during the crime
wave and the severe sentences imposed
virtually broke the epidemic of
terrorism"
Records of the Detective Bureau show
that three weeks ago forty-hve auto
mobiles were stolen in one week. In
the week preceding last night only
seventeen we're stolen, but last night
the thieves took eleven cars.
4eI In Two Months
During January and February this
year automobile thieves have stolen 421
machines here valued at s451.S49. OF
these 293 have been recovered by the
police. Their value Is put at S352,195.
These figures were compiled by Cap
tain of Detectives Souder to prove the
necessity for more stringent state laws
for the punishment of auto thieves. The
Legislature now has three bills under
consideration covering the subject and
Is conducting public hearings to learn
public sentiment In the matter One OF
the hearings was held, yesterday in City
Hall. Another will be held next Fri
day afternoon.
Ten-year Imprisonment terms for au-
Z tomobile thieves are advocated by Nor
ris Speiser. assistant district attorney
Captain Souder stated that during
the year 1918, 1850 automobiles. valued
at $2,0s4.415. were stolen in Philadel-
phia. OF these 1884, valued at s2,057,007
were recovered by the police.
"A great many of these machines are
taken for the purpose of obtaining a JOY
ride" continued Captain Souder. "and
are left standing on the street in the
outlying districts, the autos in many
Instances being badly damaged. 1t is
the practice of those who steal cars TO
run them tO Baltimore, Trenton and
other sections of New Jersey and to
points up the state. where they are dis
posed of generally TO persons who buy
them In good faith.
Law Is Suggested
1T is the easiest thing in the world
to transfer tag from enc car to an
other; and it is just as easy to place
q crooked number on an automobile
What we need is legislation which will
cause Ii man who steals a car to have
an elephant on his hands. In New Jer.
sey fine is imposed upon all persons
who have wrong numbers on their cars
and such a law should be in existence
here"
IT was declared by David j. Smyth
former Director OF the Department Of
Public Safety, who represented Captain
Souder. that IL the Cox bill was passed
by the Legislature there would be yer!
few thefts CT automobiles. He said thai
under its provisions any individual who
10 guilty of taking car could b'
traced and convicted.
Before the war" said Ellwood
Chapman, who appeared on behalf o
insurance companies, 'the insurance rat
was about SIT. but conditions Of lat
have caused the rates to be increase,
to $50. Keeper of a garage shoul,
be compelled to keep records of all car
brought to his establishment. II tn
number has been obliterated, he shoul,
be compelled to notify the police an,
State Highway Department at once
= Something drastic must be done to stol
the present crime wave"