STOLEN CARS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 690, 15 June 1929, Page 8

STOLEN CARS

Beware of SecondBargains LOOK FOR NUMBfcRS “Be very suspicious of that ■dirt cheap’ second-hand car. ... It may have been stolen.’’ This is the advice a well-known in. surance adjuster gives to all pu r . chasers of used cars. He is a man who knows, and he tells very entertaining stories of practicaly “given, away” cars, which just a little previously had been extensively advertised for in Auckland papers. It is good advice and a little caution is well worth while. It is very annoying to pay £SO deposit on » perfect bergain in all innocence, and then receive a visit from a man who with the might of the law behind him, takes it from you. .The Movris-Cowrley car that was stolen from Wheturangi Road on November 26 is evidence of the case in which a stolen car may find a pur. chaser. The car was repainted, the engine and chassis numbers removed, and the car generally camouflaged. It was then re-registered by the thief as a new car, false numbers, of course being given. At £l5O this £3OO car soon found a buyer, particularly as only £SO was asked for as a deposit. The purchaser afterwards confessed that he thought he had got. a great bargain The purchaser then insured the car giving as the numbers on the car those appearing on the registration paper, and which, unknown to him, of course, were false. How the adjuster and a mexnberof the detective force eventually traced the car cannot be revealed in jfcu detail. Suffice it to say that the detective and the adjuster carried out a process of elimination on all cars transferred and registered over a rer. tain period, and the car under suspicion was finally traced by securing all the numbers on it. The car and engine numbers had been altered, but there were others, such as speedometer, rear axle, crown wheel and crank-shaft, etc. Every number was obtained. “It all goes to show- that fraudulent registration is too easy,” said the ad.iuster. The numbers are just put. down, and there is no attempt at verb fication. It is not a difficult matter for a prospective purchaser to secure ail the numbers on a car. If all are not the same, inquire a little more closelinto the bona tides of the last owner It might save a lot of trouble later! Claims for cars stolen and then destroyed cause insurance companies a lot of trouble. It is a well-known fact that an enterprising combination was in existence some time ago. which, for a consideration, would steal and bum a car. This method of obtaining a new car was considered much better than taking a low “tradein” price.

Ov.ing to the attentions of a member of the Auckland detective force, how ever, this organisation is now out of business.