THEFT OF CARS IN AMERICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3487, 11 January 1921, Page 20

THEFT OF CARS IN AMERICA.

Just after the war it was estimated that about 30 per c nt. of the population in the United States owned a ear or motor cveje. but the boom is- now' over. A boom of another sort lias set in—the robbery of cars on such a scale that the enactment of Special legislation by the Federal Government Ins been found necessary. Last year nearly half a million cars were stolen, and not five per. cent, were recovered. Bands of highly-trained motor mechanics have embarked on the new industry, and as fast as m\v devices are invented for preventing the theft of cars the motor bandits go one better. Cars are wldsked away, lost in a broad stream of traffic, and half an hour later have been so changed that their own manufacturer would fail to recognise them. Uncle Sam is up against a stiff proposition, and now proposes that every motor car shall be treated as a piece of real property—-

130 transfer to be effected until a full title of ownership can be shown. Of course, some trouble will have to be taken, but .when a car valued at £IOOO is in question

there should be little difficulty in popular]® ing such a measure.