Sale Of Car Keys

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29246, 2 July 1960, Page 12

Sale Of Car Keys

The suggestion by Mr N. E. Kirk, Government member of Parliament for Lyttelton, that the indiscriminate sale of car keys should be checked merits study. In 1958 the police recorded 2925 cases of motorvehicle conversion, and 1258 prosecutions were brought One of the most disturbing features of the post-war. years has been the increase of crimes against property; and it is no reflection upon police efficiency to advocate every possible safeguard against such crimes Motor-vehicles are often converted because the culprits need them to facilitate other offences. Evidence in the

Courts -shows that many car converters go deliberately and systematically about the business. The expert criminal tries to invest his acts with a semblance of legitimacy; therefore he will prefer to use a key rather than force a car door.

It is fairly common, for the ignition switch and the door locks of a car to be operated by a common key, the serial number of which may be stamped on exterior door handles. As matters stand this allows a would-be thief to buy the appropriate keys without hindrance from garages. There is nothing to prevent criminals from acquiring as many different car keys as they wish The effect of restraint on sales would be unpredictable;, but cars would be safer from illegal interference. A statutory restriction might not achieve as much as a voluntary effort by the motor trade, which should consider introducing a system, such as Mr Kirk suggests, whereby keys would be sold only on reasonable oroof of lawful need. It seems oointless to exhort motorists to leave their cars locked when keys are so readily available to thieves.