Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
MOTORISTS WARNED
AGAINST JOY.RIDERS
Veteran Auto Dealer Tells of Heavy
Losses Due to Care
lessness.

The season is at hand when one OF
notordom'S chief scourges-the Joy
rider-getS in the bulk of his deprsda-
tons and does millions of dollars of
damage to the cars of others which he
'borrowS" for Just few hours. This
fact is pointed out by Rudolph Jose,
veteran local automobile dealer, who
warns motorists against the joy-rider
ana who asserts that much of the loss
due to him Is traceable to the owners
own carelessneSs.
There is one very significant differ
ence between the automobile thief and
the joy-rider, according to Mr.. Jose, and
this fact, he says, should be turned by
the owner to his protection.
1.-THE auto thief is an expert, ia.
miliar with the technique of overcom-
ing host Of obstacles which may be
laid in his path" Mr.. Jose says. "The
Joy-rider is not SO expert. Usually he
Is youth whose impulse to take an
others car is born in his desire to show
his girl or boy friends a few hours good
time by taking them for an automobile
ride through the country. If the job of
getting a car is made difficult, If the
owner has had the foresight to lock it,
the joy rider usually is helpless He
will not waste time or risk detection
working on car left locked or other
wise Safeguarded."
The depredations of the joy rider, in
many thousands of cases easily prevent
able, cost motorists millions of dollars
every year which might be saved by the
simple precaution of locking the car
every time it Is left unattended, Mr..
Jose believes. The motor car manu-
facturer has armed the car buyer with
better locking devices every year, ne
points out, but the fact that joy riding
is increasing is clear evidence that full
advantage Is not taken of the oppor-
tunities provided, in Mr.. Jose's opinion.
"Today's cars are equipped with
transmission locks, door locks, steering
wheel locks, ignition locks, coincidental
locks, and other varieties in individual
instances" Mr.. Jose continues. "It
would seem from the array of locking
devices that even the most expert of
automobile thieves could be prevented
from moving car so equipped. And
yet, experience shows, the motorist is
allowing the comparative novice-the
joy-rider-to make off with his car.
police and insurance agencies, which
spend millions in fighting against this
growing evil. point out that the situ-
alton is a bad commentary upon the
attitude Of the average car owner in
the matter of protecting his property.
Leaving an article which may be valued
as high as $4,000 unlocked on the pub
lie street or highway is to invite some
one to take 1t.
1.-THE failure to lock the car every
time it is left on the street simply is a
bad habit which could be corrected
within few days If the automobile
owner would make the effort to do go.
If one concentrates for week on re-
Numbering to lock the car the action
will become hPbitual"
The fact that SO large proportion Of
the cars which fall into the hands Of
joy-riders are recovered creates the
fallacious popular belief that the loss
must be small, Mr.. Jose point out. Why
should they not be recovered, when they
usually are deserted within few hours?
he asks. The thing to be remembered,
it is shown, is that while these cars
usually are found very quickly, the con-
dition in which they are recovered does
not give the owner cause for elation.
One of the especial tricks Of the joy
rider is to burn up the engine, II he Is
fortunate enough to escape wrecking
the car altogether. No part OF the car
is safe from his Indifferent, reckless
driving, it Is asserted.
"a concerted drive against the Joy.
rider, so simple If each car owner does
his part, could overcome the evil In q
short time" Mr.. Jose asserts.