ROGUES IN CARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 267, 10 November 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

ROGUES IN CARS.

NEW KIND OF ROBBERY.

POLICE HAVE HARD TASK.

The police of Paris are engaged m rounding up thieves of a new kind. Foreign visitors to Paris on pleasure bent are familiar with certain dancing establishments in the vicinity of the Place Pigal e. They are frequented by young women, who somehow manage to obtain possession of real pearls and diamonds. The jewels are worn at the "dancings." They are a sort of advertisement, .if not of their owners status, at 'any rate of their pretensions. There is in Paris to-day a type o£ young men, a post-war product, who do not follow any calling that can be labelled honest.. They are elegantly dressed, and they make it their business to learn to drive a motor car. Once master of the wheel they steal cars, and here is the use to which the vehicles are put. It is midnight, and unattended women who have gone to a dance think ot returning home. A handsome' young man, immaculately attired, and presenting the appearance of a gentleman with a wellfilled pocket-book, stands within the brightly-lit entrance of a .dancing establishment. A woman emerges, and the young man notes the gleam o£ diamonds at her neck. He has a wonderful knowledge of psychology. He knows with whom he is dealing. ' . . Gallantly he introduces himself, , tor there is no ceremony at these pleasure places. The'girl has not had the nights enjoyment she anticipated. Is she not alone? The night is starry—just the night for amiotor run after supper. Would she do him the honour of joining his party? The girl consents. In front of a restaurant nearby a fine motor car is standing, and inside the establishment is the younjj man's friend, as elegant as himself. He is accompanied by a woman, also wearing magnificent jewels. The quartet eat and drink of the best that the restaurant call, provide, and after the meal a good-looking chauffeur appears. _ The party take their places in the car. A run to Versailles and back— that is the programme. But Versailles is never reached. The car stops on a lonely road, and the two young women are bundled out of it. Their cavaliers, wlio have stripped them of their jewels rapidly drive back to Paris, leaving their victims to get home as best they can. During two weeks ten motor cars have been stolen, and used for the purpose of decoying and robbing women of their jewels. •

No fewer than twenty women, captivated by these elegant and seemingly wealthy young men aud the sumptuous supper given to them, have reported their losses to the police. '•.•;■, . Three of the thieves have been .put out of business. One of them belongs to a highly-respectable family. liv some cases the thieves drew a blank. Instead of pearl necklaces they, stole trinkets, such as are sold by itinerant dealers.'.'-., Yet another story of how the love of fine clothes and a detestation of work make criminals. When Auguste Moessner was sentenced to live years for burglary, little did the police'know that they had "put away" a veritable disciple of Arseue Lupin. For the young man'had-no fewer than 125 suits of clothes, not to mention scores of ties and innumerable silk shits. Also he had a sumptuously furnished flat, a motor car, and a mistress. .',""■'

Very early in life this young man deplored the conditions of the world into which he had been brought. He concluded that it.was not just that some people should be rich and have nothing to do except enjoy themselves; while others should be poor and be condemned to toil for 'a precarious livelihood. He resolved that lie wpuld be iucluded among the ljjch, and the only way he saw of accomplishing his object.was to rob the wealthy of their goods.

He began life as a factory baud. A handsome youth, with a fine figure, he attracted the attention of the daughter of middle-class parents, who.fell in love with him, and "married him on the understanding that he would seek to improve his position. He became a commercial traveller, but failed to make good. The fine raiment exposed in boulevard shops tempted him. Why should he not have the means of adorning his person like other men less good-looking than himself?

Auguste Moessuer became a burglar. He was several; times sentenced, and shared the fate of incorrigible young men, and was ordered to serve in the African battalions. There he played the good lad role, and returned to Paris with an excellent character. But not to work honestly. He had studied Arsene Lupin's methods more thoroughly, "and made a fresh start.