The Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1927-1930, 1929-02-28
VIRGINIA'S PART IN IN
TERCEPTING AUTO
MOBILE THIEVES
By Carter Wormeley


people at large the Importance
of the State Motor Vehicle De-
partment in the matter of the
recovery of stolen automobiles.
1t is the popular opinion that
the Motor Vehicle Department
is merely an agency for the col
lection of gasoline and license
plate taxes, most of which
funds go towards the construct
ion and maintaince of high
ways. There are many details of
the department of which the
public knows practically moth
ing.
10 elaborate listing of auto
mobile records by the depart
ment has been adversely COM
mented on by citizens who fail
ed to realize that this formed
che net work into the tolls of
which more than one band of
organized automobile thieves
has been driven. To deal in spe-
cific figures, during 1923, 534
recoveries were made out of 846
reported thefts. Many addition
al cars were recovered through
local agencies and no report list
ed with the central office.
The State department under
consideration operates in con-
junction with similar depart
ments from other States and
with the Federal authorities.
One particular band of automo.
ollie thieves the Virginia depart
ment was instrumental in break
ing up accounted for more than
one and one half million dollars
worth of cars. This band work
ed all the way from Florida up
into Virginia. Many of its mem
oers are today serving time in
the state prisons Of Virginia
Ind OF other States.
The Virginia department
works in close cooperation with
representatives of insurance
companies. This method, to-
gether with other combined eff
-orts, has practically broken up
ar thieVing on a large scale in
Virginia by highly organized
3ands. Cars today being stolen
are most frequently recovered
within tWenty-four or thirty
3lX hours after the report of the
theft is filed. Many are even re-
covered before notice of their
loss has been received. The de-
2artment issues daily to all po-
lice officers in the State bull
letin carrying report Of all stol>
en- cars, also report Of such cars
as have been recovered. These
bulletins are also supplied po-
lice departments in a number of
adjoining States.
Only recently Director Hayes
was notified by one of the in,
surance companies that, out of
thirty odd hundred cars insur-
ed, only one claim had it found
necessary to pay.
One or two years ago the in
surance representatives in their
report stated that their exper-
fence in Virginia had proven so
satisfactory that it was no long
er even necessary for them to
maintain a State representa-
i've here. Virginia enjoys one
# the cheapest insurance rates
If all the States.
The States of, Maryland, w.
Virginia and North Carolina
maintain the same title law as
that in Virginia. The States of
Maryland and of West Virginia
have each an adequate road
force, North Carolina has a lin
tied road force, but is contem-
plating increasing this mater
tally. The Virginia department
is in close contact with the de-
partments of the States men,
toned and is receiving one hum
dred per cent cooperation.
Last year band of thieves
working in the western part OF
the State was broken up thru
the combined efforts of the
Maryland, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia and Virginia depart
ments. Virginia advised Penn
) sylvania that a car had been
stolen in Maryland. Maryland
secured the prompt return of
the prisoner and his conviction.
Information was secured which
enabled Virginia to- round up