Evening journal., 1922-01-31
Thieves STEAL
AUTO KEY CODE
Replica of Strong Box
Placed in View as Crooks
Force Real One
HOW OWNERS
MAY PROTECT

Automobiles and motor trucks
valued at millions OF dollars were
placed at the mercy OF a band OF
thieves when a key-code book for
two locking devices used on sixty
five per cent. OF the automotive We
hicies made in the United states was
stolen from a safe in the Offices OF
the United Motor Service, Inc,
Broad and Callowhill streets, Phila-
delphia, yesterday.
The crime was one OF the boldest
and most original in the annals Of
the Philadelphia police department,
as an exact replica Of the safe, clev-
erly fashioned in wood and painted
oilcloth. was set up where it could
be seen by police or pedestrians In
the window corner normally occu-
pied by the strong box. while the
latter was rolled to the rear and
leisurely forced open.
Solid silver desk ornaments,
money orders and cash totaling
$1,000 were also taken, but the police
and officers of the United Motor
Service are principally concerned
with the loss OF the key-code. I'VE
have to deal with a master-crook,
one with daring, Imagination and at
tention to detail that stamps him a
master mind in the criminal world"
was the opinion OF c. link. assistant
manager of the looted branch sta
ton.
This is the third burglary which
has occurred in this service station
since last November and in every in
stance it was evident that the key
code book was sought. Early in No
vember. entering by the skylight
the same method employed in yes
terday's crime. the key machine was
stolen. This is useless without the
code book and a return trip was
made later in the month and a parts
catalogue for ignition systems. but
Of no value, was the sole loot.
The colossal effrontery and darinl
OF the band was made plain later ir
the same day when someone tele'
phoned to William H. Moseley, Jr.
branch manager. and told him tha'
the catalogue would be found on tor
Of a parcel-post box at Thirteentf
and Spring Garden streets. This
proved to be true. II was careful
~ wrapped and addressed to the cor
poration.
In yesterdays robbery the crooks
carried in the wooden frame OF the
false safe and carefully tackled az
olive-tinted oilcloth covering upon
after they had entered the building
was the theory Of l. w Scott, man
ager Of the parts division.
They demonstrated their clevernes
in this covering as it was painted
and lettered to resemble the origina
safe so well that 1t would have fool
ed anyone who looked through tn
windows.
u only one instance did they err
the safe was made in Hamilton. O.
the facsimile was lettered as havin
been built in Hammond
After rolling the safe 10 the reai
and setting up the bogus one. tive
truck tires were. taken from stocl
and served as sound deadeners
when the safe was tipped over tC
attach jack-screws to the combina.
ton plate. Pressure was then ap'
piled. the combination jerked ou
and the interior stripped OF the key.
code and other valuables.
Fletcher r. Sickel detective ser
geant. took impressions OF fingei
prints on both the safe and its oil
cloth duplicate while policemen
from the Twentieth and Buttonwoo,
streets station cooperating witt
headquarters detectives searched tn
roofs and areaway OF the plant 10