The Washington herald., 1920-02-13

STEAL 54CARS
IN one MONTH
District Auto Thieves Show
Unusual Activity in
January.
49 ARE RECOVERED
Boys Take Machines for
Joy Rides, Later Aban-
doning Them.
g ARE RECOVERED

Despite the fact that a special
squad Of five headquarters detec-
tives was recently assigned by Mai.
Raymond Pullman, superintendent of
police, to devote their entire ener-
gies towards running down auto
mobile thieves. fifty-four automo-
biles were stolen from the streets
of Washington during the month of
January OF this number 49 were
recovered, leaving five machines un-
recovered.
1t was pointed out that there is
no law in the District which ade-
quately provides for the punishment
OF 1oyriders. Frequently in the case
OF minors who have been caught
riding in cars without the consent
Of the owners the police have pros
ecuted the case only to have the
courts place the guilty persons on
probation.
Joy Riders Bold.
Such a practice has had the effect
of greatly lessenjng the fear of the
law in the minds OF would-be joy
riders, with the result that they
have been willing to take a chance
knowing that II they are caught
they will not be given severe SEN
tences.
In many cases the stolen machines
are taken into private garages and
disguised. In one case a woman
stole a car and the police discovered
THAI 1t had been kept in a garage
for six months and then several
important changes had been made
in its appearance. This woman was
convicted and is now serving a SEN
tenCe- In another case a machine
had been stolen in Georgia and
brought to Washington. Before Of
fering the machine for sale the man
who had stolen it changed the num-
ber on the engine.
Penalty to Transport Cars.
Recently the Federal Government
made it a United States offense to
transport a stolen machine from one
state into another. This law has
been a great help to police through
out the country.
Many machines which are stolen
in Washington are later found aban-
doned by the police, stripped Of
their tires and other detachable ac-
Coutrements.
To a great extent all cars of the
same make look alike and police
are at a loss unless there is some
distinguishing mark on the car. Re-
Gently a prominent Washington doc
tor had his machine stolen and for
several days the police had looked
in VAIN for IL. One day the doctor
chanced to be near Fourteenth and
u streets and saw his machine be-
ing driven up the street by a boy.
Jumping on the running board of
the car the physician ordered tn.
boy to drive to the nearest police
station. The case was taken to
court and the boy admitted the
theft. He was placed on probation.
Secondhand Dealers Receivers.
Secondhand dealers are the object
of many automobile thieves. A ma
reported to the police the car has
been sold to some dealer.
In an effort to force the owners of
automobiles to protect themselves
as much as possible a police regula-
sioners which made IL a violation of
the law for an owner of a machine
to leave the machine unlocked.
If automobiles are stolen through
out the remainder of the year at the
same rate as they were stolen in
January the police will have 648 au-
bile book" The general cost or
value OF each machine averages
about 1900 each, thus making a
stolen automobiles in one year.