The Washington times., 1922-08-26
RECOVER 2,12O I,
STOLEN AUTOS
. SINCE EDYERLAN
Force at Department Of Justice
convicts 1,1i3 Persons un- ;
~ der New Statute.

Since the passage OF the Dyer.
anti-theft automobile law In TIC
tober, 1919, 2,120 automobiles worth.
at a fair secondhand valuation,
$2.567, ,20S have been recovered by
the Bureau of Investigation, United
States Department Of Justice, ac'
cording to figures compiled by that
bureau at the request OF officials OF
the American Automobile Associa.
ton. The department, according to
these figures, has investigated
1891 cases which involved 1886 per.
sons. There were 2,773 persons
arrested, of which 1888 were In
dicted and Lib convicted. These
convicted persons received sentences
amounting in the aggregate to
1855 years, months, IL days,
and paid fines to the amount OF
$4,l40. The American Automobile
Association took an active part In
supporting the Dyer anti-theft bill.
which was prepared by Congress.
man l.. c. Dyer of Missouri, who
is an active member Of the Auto
mobile Club of Missouri and who
was assisted in obtaining facts
necessary for the preparation of
his measure by the Automobile
Club of Missouri and the A. A. A.
Increased activity on the part OF
the Department OF Justice is in
dicated by the figures submitted Tor
the fiscal year ended June 3O'
which show that 1874 cases, in
volving 1855 persons, were inves.
tigated during this period. or
.hese, 1850 were arrested, l,o7O in
licted, and 500 convicted, receiving
sentences aggregating 1.570 years.
; months and days. FINES
imposed during this period amount
d to $24.590 and 1920 automobiles
worth, at their secondhand valua.
ion, $l,462,757 were recovered.
ylance at these totals will show
hat more than so per cent OF the
.ars recovered and convictions OBJ
aimed since the passage of the
Dyer law took place during the
past fiscal year.
Any doubt as to the need for
such a measure is disslpated by the
presentation of the above figures.
which show a material reduction
n the percentage OF motor cars
stolen since the law went into
effect. SAYS American Motorist.
Credit for the enforcement OF this
law, which has resulted In such
large percentage of arrests. Is
largely due to William J. Burns.
head OF the Bureau of 1nvestiga-
tons. Department of Justice. Mr..
Burns has given special attention
o automobile thefts. realizing the
extent of this industry, for 1t had
become an industry, and has placed
iome OF his best operatives on
.hese cases.
The outstanding feature of the
Dyer law is the fact that II places
interstate transportation Of stolen
motor vehicles under Federal law
and MAKES such an action punish
able in Federal courts. Before the
passage of this act there had been
built up a great and growing traf.
fic in stolen motor vehicles, con-
Quoted by bands Of unscrupulous
men who maintained assembling fac
tories at various points and who,
through their ability to transpose
parts of various machines, one to
the other, we're able to 30 alter a
stolen car as to make II practically
unrecognizable to the original owner.
these men and the Dyer bill filled q
long-felt want.
Not only do the efforts Of the De-
partment' of Justice, backed up by
the stringent provision Of the Dyer
law, initiate against the automo-
bile thief, but by decreasing the theft
hazard they automatically tend to
reduce the cost Of theft insurance, in
itself no inconsiderable item to the
motorist. Just as hanging and cleo
trocution have failed throughout
time to prevent entirely the commits.
sion Of murder and other capital
crimes, so has the Dyer anti-theft
law failed to prevent entirely the
stealing Of automobiles. SO long as
motor vehicles are made there Is a
certain class Of men who will take
the chance; no mater how desperate,
Of stealing them. This is because
the automobile is a property with a
fixed resale value, easy to move