The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-09-14
TERRITORY
IS SECURED
FOR THIEVES
Chief Nitz Of West Hammond
Police Makes Dis
C0VeTy

gtolen-to-order automobiles may
now be had the same as custom built
or the ordinary kind. according to
facts which are coming TO light as q
result Of an investigation now being
made by Chief Nitz OF the West Ham
mond police.
The West Hammond police now
have six OF these cars in their pos
session. all in hrst class shape and
representing a vlauation Of about
$4,000. More are expected to turn
UP as te investigation proceeds.
Word came to the police that West
Hammond man had been offered
handsome Cadillac machine at a
ridiculously low price. In fact the
sum was so small for the car which
was almost new that the prospective
purchaser became suspicious. The
police were notified ana the two men
who had attempted 10 make the sale
were picked up some time later.
The car which they had tried TO sell
was gone and they denied knowing
what had become OF it. Attempts a.
tracing the machine so rar have yield
ed no results but it is thought to have
been sold TO someone in West Ham
mond, Hammond or nearby territory.
The police suspecting an organized
gang began checking up on ma
chimes which had recently appeared III
West Hammond. Assistance was also
rendered by Hammond police and the
result was that four Hudson touring
cars, a Cadillac sport model and a
Buick roadster were picked up within
the lagt few days. All were found
to be stolen cars and had been sold
TO the latest owners at prices which
should have aroused suspicion.
The Buick roadster. good IS new.
had been run only 1900 miles and yet
the salesman" parted with 1t a s sec
ond- handed for only $3.50.
Purchasers OF these stolen machines
have been called to the police station
to look over the two men who are
being held but so far none have identi-
fed them as the ones who sold the ma
chimes.
Representatives OF the Chicago De-
tective Bureau were in West Ham
mond yesterday afternoon looking
over the cars which had been recover
ed. From their records they were
able to identity all OF them as stolen
and furnished the names OF the own
ers. The majority of the machines
have been stolen within the last
month in Chicago.
Il is said that the "stolen-to order"
salesman approaches a prospect and
represents himself to be a free lance
secondhand agent. He offers a car
or two which generally prove unsatis-
factory TO the unsuspecting prospect
The conversation generally ends by
the prospect saying something like
this: We'll If you could find me q
good Buick or Hudson at decent
price might consider it.
The salesman assures ais client that
he can find just such car for there
are always fellows buying good ma
chimes and then finding they need
money more than they do the ma
chine" He explains that he always
keeps hi seyes open for such boys in
distress.
A few days later he calls on his
prospective customer with just the
car they were talking about He
tells OF the poor fellow who had to
sell and even produces a bill of sale
attested by a notary. some of them
Hammond notaries by the way. The
deal is quickly closed.
Chief Nitz and his men are hot on
the trail OF the Cadillac offered by his
two prisoners and If it can be located
he believes he will have all the evi-
dence necessary to convict them ana
at the same time bring a confession
from them clearing UP the thefts OF
the other machines.