Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-05
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are caught with car, but haven't dam
aged II in the least. And those con-
victed of "ioy-riding" are given one last
ioy-ride to the penitentiary for PERIODS
of one to three years. II 1t is proved
that some person has unlaWfuliy taken
a car and in any way damaged II, That
is sufficient to convict him OF grand
larceny" whose penalty Is a. sentence
of one to ten years.
In MARYLAND. unauthorized use" is
the term brought to bear in lieu Of 10y
riding" whereas, in Virginia, grand
larceny obtains.
OUCH a variety of interpretations on
~ a single offense has, indeed, resulted
in some misunderstanding as to speclflc
charges But then Uncle Sam arrives
on the scene and plasters the criminal
with a severe penalty in case the cui-
prit is convicted of interstate trafficking
in auto vehicles Some notorious gangs
end thieves drive national businesses
and the only protection offered the far
dung States is just such statute, that
will throw s1ivers into the bandits
| nervous system.
Who are these folk who make prac-
| lice, business or hobby of car thieving?
| they're of the breed that has the grain
| If grand larceny running through their
| .natomies. Anthropologists might, in
| deed, discover some day that auto
| iflieves are direct descendants of the
| camel thieves in the deserts and the
s'hoss" thieves that made coWboying a
| sport as we'll as an occupation.
| Lives of modern boss" thieves are
more dangerous than those of then
| progenitors. Horses we're never num-
| oered. although they we're branded with
| trade marks A clever horse thief could
| break into corral, tie 100 mustangs
| together and trot of in the dead OF
| night. So far, the cleverest auto thiet
| mas found 1t impossible to harness him.
| self to more than one gasoline buggy
| A fustllade of description and comment
S broadcast Immediately after car
| disappears. There go to the corners OF
| the Nation descriptions that can iden-
| tify that car no matter whether it is
| changed from a racing auto into
| limousine.
There is a recent story of the high
priced limousine that was dismantlec
| and sold to junk dealers in different
parts of the country Detectives re-
| covered the motor in an accessory shop
The parts we're reassembled and the
machine delivered to the owner. The
assembly took two years.
Auto thieves are divided into three
groups-the 'ioy-rider," desperate criml-
nal and professional thief. The last
two are almost hopeless. Usually. they
are resolved either to make it profitable
or spend their lives in prisons.
The "ioy-rider" is to be pitied for not
knowing better. His class includes the
automaniacs.
| The criminals and professional thieves
are usually more advanced IN years than
| the "ioy-rider" But 1t is on record thai
| fully 95 per cent of the men engaged II
motor thieving are between ID and :,
years of age.
Hence. motor crookery is folly OF
youth. full of nervous tension and ORA
matte sequels. demanding strength anc
asking no quarter. Men OF mellowec
years are too wise to engage in such
business. Youth has enough impetuous'
ness to be deceived.
4 FEW women. very few. are mem
Il beers of the -tfieving fraterni
ty. Usually they are employed as de
COWS or lookouts, although there have
been cases where they have made OF
with automobiles with as much daring
as men.
One class of law-breaking leads int
another, namely. bootlegging. The liquo
smugglers know that If caught thei
conveyances are confiscated. henc'
there is no reason for them TO buy au
tomobiIes. Stealing is simple. Besides
they are such fine judges OF autos tina
they can pick the fast ones and daSt
IF without much ado.
The vernacular Of the underworld
nrescribes the words hot or bent
for stolen cars Such rolling wealth Is
dangerous property. and these deserip'
tive titles we're probably saddled on Il
because wherever the trail leads 1t Is
hot Rarely does a car disappear that
the sleuths do not have some clue TO It's
whereabouts
1t may have been the criminal, too
who converted the AmericaniSm "loy-
ride" to a legal term fit 10 hobnoo with
more dignified words in statute books
In its various meanings "ioy-rtde" Is
piuuant. colorful and highly descriptive
Although the mother-tongue dictionaries