The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-01-12
HOW MARYLAND MEETS ITS
STOLEN CAR PROBLEM
Ninety-six Per Cent of All Autos
Falling Into the Hands of
Thieves Are Recovered.

y
ords show that more than ninety-six
per cent of all cars which fall into
the hands of thieves are recovered.
In proportion to the number of mo-
tor vehicles in the State, thefts are
fewer by far than they were seven
years ago, but far more striking is the
improved percentage of recoveries-
difference of about forty-four per
cent.
An Illuminating explanation might
be made at the outset; the recovered
machines are not always in the best
of condition when they are returned
to their owners-as a matter of fact
some of them bear little resemblance
to motor cars. This leads to the cor
rect conclusion that few automobiles
are stolen for resale in toto.
The young crook, choosing his pro-
fession nowadays, apparently seldom
enters the automobile theft business
with view to trading in complete as
semblies. True, he dabbles in it, but
only as it provides him portable goods
or serves him in his main line of en-
deavor. He learned long ago that the
element of risk is too great and the
chance of profit too small.
To those who can bark back a dec
ade and remember with what qualms
they left the family gas buggy at the
curb, the study of this situation is
extremely interesting, for then there
was an even chance that when the me-
chanical servant did disappear it
never would return to the fold.
The greatest deterrent to the steal
ing of motor cars is the titling act
and is acceptance by most of the
States in the Union.
Maryland pointed the way to this
greatest of all anti-theft expedients.
1t was back in 1920 that the late Os-
borne l. Yellott, then general counsel
for the Automobile Club of Maryland,
drew up the statute and pushed it
through with the backing of he club
and of State department heads. This
made it impossible for car to be sold
in Maryland without its vendor show
ing title, the lack of which imme-
diately aroused suspicion.
Quick to sense the advantages of
the law, other States fell into line, I'M
til now there are only few which
have not copied the act So line of
protection has been thrown around
Maryland. He who sells stolen car
must run hot gauntlet before he can
reach New York, the nearest State
having no titling law.
While locks never prevailed against
the determined thief in years gone by,
the automobile manufacturers today
have developed coincidental systems
which make circumvention a hazard
ous and tedious job. These locks cover
ignition, transmission and steering.
Not SO long ago the favorite sport
of the auto thief was picking locks,
which, for many years, covered only
the ignition. All sorts of clever
schemes were devised whereby the
locking device could be undone.
1t is told that on certain day in
1916 a man climbed into a big car
on one of the streets of Baltimore,
fumbled in his pocekts for time and
finally accosted a policeman, who was
standing nearby.
"Oficer," he said, 81 have lost my
keys. Would you mind giving me a
hand for a moment while l file this
lock OFF,"
The burly bluecoat stepped into the
breach, handing tools to the man and
offering much advice. Finally the
job was done and the man, with very
hearty thanks to the policeman drove
away Five minutes later another
man came out of doorway, clapped
his hand to his head and shouted to
the patrolman:
"Officer, somebody has stolen my
carl"
But the thieves learned eventually
that it was not necessary to waste
time and take chances by picking the
locks. They found that they could
run a wire in a moment from the live
terminal Of the horn to the distributor
and complete the cirucit so carefully
locked. A long piece of wire with
clamps on each end was used for this
purpose.
Then a manufacturer came out with
a great spike which could be locked
around the tire. This spike set up a
terrible racket as the car bounced
along, besides leaving a clear track
which could be followed.
One thief jumped into a car on an
other street in Baltimore one day,
started the motor and began to drive
away. He bumped along for a oar
ter of block, lost his nerve under the
surprising racket and fled, leaving
the car in the middle of the street. He
was caught by pursuing crowd.
This device worked splendidly until
the thief found he could let some of
the air out of the tire, turn the spike
around To the inside of the wheel and