JOY RIDES

Otago Witness, Issue 3414, 20 August 1919, Page 43

JOY RIDES

* '» IS CAR-LIFTING A CRIME? Thefts of motor cars have been increasing in Wellington during the past,few months. Fortunately the thofts, so far, do not seem to have been undertaken in a serious mood or with criminal intention, as in most cases (says the Dominion) the cars have been found in different place*s more or less uninjured. On peace night, for instance, a doctor's car was removed from the place in which it had been parked in order that the doctor and his wife could proceed round the -bay and view the fireworks. When they went to the car to proceed home it was gone. Some hours later it was found intact in Oriental Bay. Tho most extraordinary case, however, was tho theft on Saturday evening of the car of Mr D. S. Patrick, of 14 Hawker street. In this case the car was boldly removed from the garage early in the evening As the garage was not flush with the road, but stands back, the thieves had to scale the gate, get the car out of the garage (which had been left unlocked), unbolt the : gates, and get away. The ear was discovered abandoned in Morrah's terrace, off Wellington terrace, on Monday, with two of the tyres showing the result of heavy usage (one being blown out), and the car showing signs that heavy use had been made of it on the Saturday night and morning. Mr Patrick was naturally perturbed at the loss of his car; and, with him, every car owner will be amazed to hear that the police have advised Mr Patrick that, as the law stands, there is no certainty of a conviction against the guilty parties, even if "it was proved conclusively that they "lifted" the car from the garage. The police have informed Mr Patrick that a test case is to be heard in Napier in a few days that will throw light on the point. Mr Patrick holds that the offence is one of common theft from private premises, and that though the goods are subsequently recovered, the offence is none the loss a criminal one, and punishable as such. If it be not so, then every car owner should know the position in order to take every means to guard his property. The point is one that the Wellington Automobile Association might take up in the interests of its members to the extent at least of obtaining a legal opinion on carlifting "as a recreation."