CONVERSION OF CARS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22795, 22 August 1939, Page 10

CONVERSION OF CARS

importance of locking VEHICLES CITY INSPECTOR’S REPORT “Motorists who leave their cars unlocked on the streets are encouraging unlawful conversion,” states the Ciuei City Traffic Inspector (Mr J. Bruorton) in a report to the Commissioner of Transport, who has invited comments on proposed methods of preventing the conversion . of motorvchiclcSi • “It’s not so easy to convert American cars as English makes, owing to the difference-in ignition keys. American makes have different keys for each car, whereas the majority of English cars have a blank key,, which will fit almost all makes. It is even possible to switch on an English car with a piece of remarks Mr Bruorton. ' ~ “Against the locking of. cars is the danger of the vehicle causing obstruction in case of fires, etc. In eases of fire it may even be necessary to break a window of a car in order to release the brake, so that cars could be pushed out of danger. I have on occasions been compelled to engage the car ambulance to remove a car which has been locked so as to cause obstruction, the owner being charged for the use of the ambulance, and, if necessary, a charge is taken for obstruction. “I would like to suggest that a small disc bearing the registered number of the car be issued with the plates at a small cost. This could be attached to the switch key ring, which would assist the police and specters when suspicious of anyone attempting to drive a car. If P er . s °£® are unable to produce this they would naturally have to explain satisfactorily their ownership. . “In my opinion this should, in time, have the effect of creating a certain amount of 6 fear, and thus reduce car thefts which are so prevalent to-day.