Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-05
Barney 0ldffee!!d1 says:
BY BARNEY oLDFIELD

In the course of n year more raan
10000 cars are stolen. Rapidly as the
number of cars has increased during
past years, the number of thefts has
increased still more rapidly.
The individual car owner can do
something toward solving the prob
lem though he cannot do everything
that must be done to eliminate stealing
of cars. We shall try to explain brief
ly what the car owner can do to pro-
tect himself.
Car thefts may be divided into two
distinct classes, one of which is the
work of the professional automobile
thief, while the other is the activity of
the so-called "joy-rider."
The professional thief will match
his wits against any locking device
that is designed to prevent his getting
a car on which he has set his mind.
There are a number Of locks of diff
ferent types, however, which will foil
the joy rider and scare the thief and
this is the part of the problem that
the individual ear owner can solve.
Four Types of Locking Devices
How critical the theft problem had
grown may be judged when we state
that the National Automobile chamber
Of commerce, the Society of Auto
motive Engineers and the insurance
laboratories have united in an effort
to deal with the evil. After mature in
vestigation these united bodies have
decided that locking devices of proper
design and construction are adequate
to curb the joy rider.
AS a result of their Investigations
the above mentioned authorities have
come to the conclusion that four types
Of locking devices meet the need of
the situation. The first type men
toned is the transmission lock, which
locks the gearshift in a set position,
making it impossible to operate the
mechanism until this has been releas-
ed. This type of lock is not applica-
BILE to the Ford.
The second type is the steering
wheel lock. This type is applied TO
the steering wheel or steering column.
In some cases it operates to realise
the steering wheel, so that it swings
around free, making it impossible to
steer the car. In other cases the
wheels are locked in one position so
that the car cannot be guided out of
a straight path.
Locking Device Saves on Insurance
Other types of locks operate on the
fuel and ignition system. These locks
shut off the gasoline or switch off
the ignition as the case may be.
The insurance companies now add 4
certain amount TO the premium OF
theft policies for cars that are not
protected by locking devices of some
sort. TWENTY-FIVE dollars per year is
. the addition to the present premium
J in these eases. That can be saved by
the car owners putting on a locking
device, but it is important TO note that
this device must be one that has been
approved by the insurance authorities.
Therefore, before the car owner equlps
his ear with a locking device he should
find out from his insurance company
that the particular make Of lock he
buys has been approved by the under
writer's. A mistake here may cost
the motorist SO per year. so look
out. We shall be glad to advise you IN
regard to the type of locking device TO
buy for your cars, # you VIII write
giving make and model.
Very different is the condition as
regards the operations of the profess
sional automobile thief whcn he makes
up his mind to have a certain car.
One of the efficient locking devices,
which we have already considered,
will delay, even the professional put
However, ever the delay justifies the
use of the lock, quite outside the real
protection it gives against the Joy
rider. The professional thief is often
found to be d graduate of one of the
automobile factories or a big. repair
shop and he has probably been a
chauffeur. He has spent the greatest
part of his life around cars and he
knows every nut and bolt of the
mechanism and can get around every
tran. regardless Of its cunning.
Removing Thief's Incentive
To deal with this expert thief,
therefore, the insurance ana aueoino-
bile i~nystigatoers propose to remove
the incentive for the theft. thus pre-
venting it .beforehald. They propose
that thk motor car shall be put on
the sa1Ee plane with real estate. When
a car issues from the factory, its pur-
chaser receives a deed Of ownership,
which will be registered, Just as a
realty deed is registered. This deed
stays with the car throughout ITS
without the deeds being duly executed
to the new purchaser. Under these
circumstance it would do the profess
sional thief not the slightest good to
steal a car, because he would not be
able to offer a clear title with it n
consequently could not find a pur-
chaser. Thus the entire incentive to
steal motor cars TOT future sale 10 re-
moved at one fell swoop.
Of course, much remains to be
worked out in connection with this
latter plan. 1t will be necessary to
get all the states TO pass similar stat
utes, a matter which requires time.
Nevertheless, this is the first hint of
real solution of the critical problem Of
automobile theft that VIC have had.
In the meantime the car owner can
protect himself to a considerable de-
gree by installing a locking device of
approved design and construction.