El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-02-28
Ozene7.S Alone
indifferent To
Theft Of Cars

Only one recruit is lacking to the
group opposing the depredations OF
the auto bandits. the automobile
owner himself. according to d. e
Booth. manager Of the Quick Tire
Service, Inc, distributors OF United
States tires.
"The national record Of $4,000 900
W orth OF automobiles stolen during
the year. 1918" said Mr. Booth, rep
resents not only an absolute increase
over the figures for other years but
a relative increase as compared with
other kinds OF crime.
Under these circumstances govern
ment and other institutions. which
see the question as a large collective
issue have readily instituted proven
tive and corrective measures The
automobile owner, whose outlook on
the situation is naturally that OF the
owner OF a single car, has been slower
to take active step for self proteo-
ton.
Protect the Car.
Many cities have increased the size
Of the police detail for the protection
Of automobiles, and penalties for car
theft have been made heavier. In
one place, the punishment Of whipping
has been reintroduced. The national
law. making II a federal offence to
transport stolen automobiles from one
state to another. has suggested to
many state legislatures the possibility
OF imposing an additional penalty for
Transporting booty from one county
20 another II has been proposed also
that mutilating serial numbers on a
car be defined as a separate and
distinct crime.
an Chicago a polic6 school has been
established 10 teach the features that
distinguish different makes OF auto
mobiles and tires. number systems,
and methods OF Identification and
Hrn Hmn#hnn ~ Hnnr#c#Wn tim In unTnWTN
automobile companies has made trac-
ing ownership easier.
Preventive Work.
Certain cities. such as Detroit,
Kansas City and Indianapolis, have
undertaken purely preventive work.
in requiring all dealers in second
hand automobiles % be licensed to
report all transactions daily 70 the
police. and 20 keep all goods bought
for a certain length Of time before
reselling.
Another proposal that has been
made Is that a permanent bill OF
ownership be required for every au-
owner 10 owner as the car Is sold.
A stiu more radical plan f. that
change OF ownership be registered. as
in the case o. real estate This
seems an excessive precaution- Real
estate is the only kind OF property
that IS permanent Registering other
property would call FOR nlimitable
since there IS no limit on the
amount manufactured-and uncer-
tain-since there IS no definite period
Of existence-rec0rds.
with such active interest being
taken on all sides for the prevention
OF automobile thieving, Il seems eN-
traordinary that the person most af-
fected. the automobile owner, should
IN many Instances, neglect a simple
Nrrn-Hf HnNTw Ina HE ION
the marking OF his automobile 50
that Il may be certainly Identified
Owner Indifferent.
The indifference Of most automo-
bile owners to this phase OF the
situation IS based on the belief that
hey would know their car. no mat
Ter how elaborate an attempt we're
hi are thieves IN concealinE their
booty that in the old DAYS they
painted horses. and escaped detec-
.ion-and yet the horse has a natural
solor. And after the color OF his au-
.omobile has been changed. its serial
number removed OF cleYerly altered,
Is license plate and tire equipment
and all outstanding distin-
gushing marks removed, TO what
,ouie the average owner point 70 a
certain Identification
Naturally a car owner must
1rove beyond a shadow OF doubt that
/ stolen car IS his before he can re-
gain possession OF It II Is an actual
act that many cars, recovered from
hieves, can not be given to a claim
ng owner because they can not be
Identified. An especially difficult
base Of the situation Il when a
ltoleu car has passed ownership.
Then the burden OF proof as to the
IDENTIFY OF the car is the real owner,
z he can not positively prove the
ar to be his, he can not invalidats
he buyers tile.
Lack Of Identification.
Lack Of means OF Identification IS
.lso q great hindrance 70 the work
u the police IN bringing criminals 70
ustice. On the other hand, the
knowledge that automobiles were
leing widely marked so that they
,ould be unfaIlingly recognized by
heir owners would be a powerful
deterrent to automobile bandits, and
would make a would be purchaser OF
/ second hand machine hesitate TO
'uy unless he were assured q GER
ain title"