New-York tribune., 1922-06-25
BY n. Clifford Brokaw

Technical Director. Wet SIDE y. M.
c. 4. Automobile Schools
The total value Of the automobiles
In the metropolitan area that arc stolen
annually. II the money were used %
buy food. would go long way toward
feeding the starving children IN the
Near East. II - not uncommon for
the owner Of csr 20 drive up % the
curb Of New York City street. get
out and enter building 20 transact
business. come out few minutes later
and discover that he does no, own an
automobile after all The machine has
been taken over IN MS absence by q
ncW owner The ex-Owner. whose car
ns- been stoien. has. according 20 roe
ports. about ono chance out of '~o
81 getting 10 bacs. Il IL another ques-
iion a. 20 what the cars coalition will
Do rs found
There arc two kinds OF auto thei.r. .
tho real ard ne fake IN the case o.
t1e iahe theft. the owner is ~ partner
So. - with the thief A auto. for IT.
s.ance. that is insured for 1900 is re.
ported by the owner ss having been
stolen The machine is worth $1,000
insurance. makes a clean profit Of $500
The thief. on the other hand. finds lit.
tle d fhculty In ling the car FOR 1900.
;hereoy making nm eoua' amount on t1r
deal
Insurance companie. novrrcr have
stfened up on the conduct ~ the o.
business so tna' lt D.. not so easy as 70
used 90 be 90 get csr insured or moIo
'nan D. ia worth ]; is important thai
.rsrr9-cc companies exercise care .r
its1.rg tho policies 50 as 20 lessen Co.,.
possibility of fasc ar'o thefis whleh
fena co Keep insurance rate hign.
The honest man Who insIres ME cai
must help. through bic prem mum pay
mont. 10 pay 'ro urGcscrTcd insurance
of the faker. n sucn tnefts become
common Insurance companies must
either raise their rates or 20 out or
business II the rates become esccs-
sive. owners will feel that me cnancce
o. nayirg their car stolen are not a.
great re the premium demands would
ird cate.
Thefts often Due to Carelessness
real theft o. an automobile Be-
often due 20 care.essness Of The own
or lie often leaves MS KEY fin he car.
thereby extending a hearty invitation
TO- some waiting thief 10 Stea. it. 4 .-
most every ca has some kind 50 q
locking device which will greatly han
dicsp thief IN his operations. There
j. the ignition lOck which is very com
mon Some cars arc equipped so TINT
the gear shift lever can be locked in
neutral Some machines have e steer
ing wheel lock which makes ~ impos-
sinic 20 steer fhc car There is n de-
VICE which is attached 20 fhe tire which
makes i. possible 10 track a stolen car.
II the owner vii exercise reason
atlo care IN taking the key 90 his car
with him when leaving it. even for "a
short time ne will reduce 20 mini
mum tho chances of having his car
stolen. Bu' this does not necessarily
mean tnat me- auto VIII not be stolen.
as crooks sometimes outwlt even the
most careful owners. 4 CROOK may
watch = CIR for weeks unit! he becom IS
thoroughly familiar with the habits OF
'he cNnct Tro crook learns how long
the owrer leaves mis- car Al certain
places He 1iar be able 20 get a key
that fts a. and thereby get away with
MS booty rather easily.
4 crook may have an accom1ice VINO
works with him The accomplice may
com. along az n prearranged time. ard
with the help ~ the crook tow th" co.
away. as though Z were disabled and
was being taken 20 garage Tor re-
pail