CAR STEALING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 269, 13 November 1935, Page 15

CAR STEALING.

DYING CRIME IN LONDON. BREAKING UP THE GANGS. LONDON, October 5. The vigilance of Scotland Yard, has made automobile theft tlie most rapidly dying branch of crime in London to-day. One after another the major gangs of car robbers have been broken up, and the leaders and members sentenced to long prison terms. Just recently the police caught and gaoled a powerful group which had been operating extensively in several different parte of London. Earlier in the year the last chapter was written to the records of another gang, when long terms of imprisonment were imposed on men who preyed on motorists all over the city, and who sold more than 250 stolen cars in their own showrooms in Cornwall, the southwestern part of England. At the present time the police are investigating another gang which is believed to have operated on a large scale for the last three or four years. This gang sells it loot in the Channel Islands and in northern England. In 1032 just over 1000 cars were stolen in the streets of London. The following year the number was 837, and last - year tho number of stolen cars dropped-to 726. It is very likely this year will show a new low figure record. The usual methods of organised car thieves is this: The men in the gang first rent a small yard or garage and open up, apparently, a genuine motor business. Then they buy up . old cars at auctions and break them up, keeping tho registration books. When they have a numiber of these they are really ready to get down to business. They go out into the streets and steal cars, which are brought back to the "genuine" garage and altered. The body may be repainted, an opening "sunshine" roof may be fitted to a standard closed model, and any other modification may be made to disguise the stolen car. Engine numbers and chassis numbers are invariably erased, and fresh numbers are punched in. Then a new license is obtained with the registration book of the broken up car, and the car is ready for "legitimate" resale. Tho thieves are generally very careful to buy up cheap okl cars of varying types and makes, so that little alteration need be made when a nice modern car is brought in by one of the gang. Car thieves have been known to raid tho offices of local registration authorities in the country, steal numbers of bla.nk registration .books, and forge numbers, official stamps and other details before asking for a "renewal" of license.