MISSING MOTOR-CARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20722, 15 November 1930, Page 12 (Supplement)

MISSING MOTOR-CARS.

THEFTS ABOUT AUCKLAND. ANXIETY AMONG OWNERS. The unauthorised removal of motor-cars from city streets is becoming increasingly prevalent, in Auckland, and car owners fear that with approach of summer the impertinent class of people known as " joyriders " will become even more daring in their operations. It would appear that there exists in Auckland a mean typo of criminal who is not content with removing and using somebody else's car, but finds some means of destroying tho car after lie lias finished with it. 'J ho reason for such an act is rather obscure, hut tho frequency with 'which cars are removed anil later burned, or otherwise wrecked, is becoming alarming. There were two cars taken and destroyed in Auckland last week-end, and as motor-car thefts are more common in the summer than at any other time of the year, this season would seem to have opened very badly. Motorists' Responsibilities.

In (heir own .jiterests, motorists should take every precaution against- their cars being unlawfully removed. Observations made recently showed that in tho principal parking areas in tho city, * substantial proportion of the cars fitted with locking devices had been left with the ignition keys in place. Other cars, closed models, had been parked with tho windows open, so that au intending thief could easily gain access to the door-locks.

Motorists are well aware that the removal of cars is quite frequent in Auckland, and if they leave their motors unlocked they have only themselves to blame if they arc stolen. All closed models can he most effectively locked, but it is surprising how many drivers do not take the trouble to raise all the windows and lock the dooi's before leaving the car unattended. In addition to door locks, most cars are fitted with ignition, steering or gear-locking devices, and any one of these is sufficient to cause a thief so much trouble that he will probably abandon his attempts to start tho car, and look further afield for an unlocked machine.

In tho case of older models, specially open cars, it is sometimes difficult to lock them securely. Most of the English cars, three or four years old have magneto ignition, and there is no provision made for a locking device. Owners of these cars would be well advised to improvise a gear-lock, as car thieves favour the type of car which is easily and quickly removable. Police Protection. Certain motor owners have recently expressed the opinion that, they are entitled to increased police protection, in view of the prevalence of car thefts. A prominent motorist made the suggestion that a motor patrol should be introduced to keep watch for missing cars and to give chase over a long distance. He said that such methods would have to be. resorted to if the nuisance# v.-as to be stamped out, as at present the owner of a missing vehiclecould expect little from the police, who were working under a handicap, and had to wait until his car was found either abandoned or wrecked.

It lias been suggested that two or three constables mounted on motor-cycles should be stationed at the central watch-house, ready to proceed at short notice in the directions usually taken by " joy-riders." The patrols could keep constantly in touch with the central station and bo kept informed of any other missing cars. It was considered certain that, under such circumstances, a much larger proportion of cars would be recovered in a shorter time, and more offenders would be arrested. The mere existence of a motor-cycle squad would probably result in a falling off in car thefts, as there are few motor-cars which can outdistance a fast two-wheeler on good roads, and the thought of being captured at the wheel of a stolen car would probably instil a wholesome fear into would-be " joy-riders." SAFETY FIRST ESSAY. The Auckland Automobile Association advises that it is offering prizes to school children for an essay competition on the subject of " Safety First on the Road." The competition is being conducted in order to stimulate the interest of school children in the principles of " safety first," and the subject matter fur theso essays and knowledge of the subject can he gained from the association's broadcast talks at IVA news session every Thursday evening, or from the lectures given by the Auckland City Council's inspectors at tho schools. The competition will be divided into two classes, tho senior division for the pupils of secondary schools and the junior division for children attending primary schools. Competitors must state their name, address, ago and the school at which they are attending. The competition will close t <>o Friday, December 12. The first prize in each class will be £1 Is and the second prize 10s 6d. The essay will bo judged by the association, whose decision will be final. Through the courtesy of IYA, it is proposed to broadcast the prize-wiilning essays during the children's hour and tho news session. Further particulars can be obtained from tho association's offices. The competition will be open for any pupil residing in the Auckland Province or that, part, of tho island controlled by the A.A.A.