NO CAR THIEVES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 750, 24 August 1929, Page 11

NO CAR THIEVES

FRENCH POLICE STAMP OUT BANDITS CAREFUL INVESTIGATIONS Motor-car bandits are almost unknown in France. The last big crime committed with the aid of a stolen cai* was near the Spanish frontier, three years ago. The French police declare that the main reason for the absence of motorcar banditry is the campaign during the past five years to hunt down and bring to justice the professional stealers and receivers of stolen motor-cars. Daily surprise visits to suspected 1 garages and the stricter examination on main roads by the local gendarmerie of the identity papers which have to be carried by all motorists have caused the reduction in the number of stolen car. Those which still disappear are nearly always hurried out of the country to Belgium or Germany. The motorist in France has always to carry with him a grey card giving exact details of his motor-car, a red card which shows that he has passed his driver's test, and a green card showing that he has paid his quarterly tax. Police motor-cars, small black three-seaters stationed at all the important police stations, are ready to be rushed to any point at a moment’s notice. They are also used by police inspectors frequently during the night to inspect the police posts in their area.