FOILING THE THIEF

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 50, 15 November 1946, Page 2

FOILING THE THIEF

MORE PROTECTION WANTED FOR CARS

Car thieves, as well as the more honest members of the /motoring community, are extremely busy in this post-war period of vehicle shortage, and the success of the carminded Bill Sikes, armed with nine inches ofpiping with which he obtains leverage on door handles, causes the motorist to turn the key in the lock more in hope than in faith. Removal of the rotor arm will, perhaps, foil the joy-riding hooligan, but it is'not to be expected that the professional thief will fail to provide himself with one or two samples of this almost standard component. Garage doors, unless provided with a mortised lock, are best regarded as a .protection only against wind and weather. At some extra cost the remedy for “car-snatching” could be achieved in manufacture by the fitting of a lock for' the steering, requiring a key that is as nearly individual as; for instance, that of the well-known Yale house-door lock, which is considerably nearer perfection in this respect than the average car door and ignition lock. Few motorists would object to paying a little extra for the peace in mind that this would give. In the meantime, for those who feel that their cars are particularly vulnerable, it may be pointed out that some protection is given by a length of stout chain, padlocked round a pair of wheels, the smashing of which can be achieved only with enough noise to attract notice.