EXPERT MOTOR THIEF.
COOL, DARINCr AND CLEVER. If Sydney Meredith, the prince "of motor ear thieves, who was- sentenced to three years’ penal servitude, could write half as well as he can steal, - says a London paper, he %on!d tell a fascinating romance of the road —rof luxurious cars he stole, of beautiful women he made love to, of bounteous at fashionable hotels, of hundreds of pounds dissipated in a single day. From one point of view Meredith was an ideal thief. He did not look 'ike a thief. As a musician his fondness was for sacred music on the organ. Tall, sparely built, cleanshaven, his eyes sparkling with good humour and apparent honesty,.and always well dressed, he gave tlie impression of a young Englishman out for a good day’s-sport. He was only 22, and his gait had (he buoyant spring of life it the open air. And he was as cool and daring as he was honest-looking. He would steal a £I,OOO motor car witli the sune ease as another man would •ap a glass of wine. Ilis criminality had a modest be'inning. In 1013 be was bound :ver for stealing and receiving bicycles. Later lie stole some ;jewellery and received a short term of imprisonment. And so by progressive stages he came to appropriating valuable motor cars. As lie was an accomplished driver, a motor car vizard, and had an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of Hie roads of England, he achieved success. It is certain that the estimate he gave to Detective-Sergeant Trosse, who arrested him, of 30 stolen cars in four months was a very modes! one. - He began by stealing a War Office •ar, and deserting from the Royal \ir Force. He first, joined (he army a 1911, but in the following year he was discharged on the ground of ill-heallh. He rejoined in June, 1918, as a mechanic in the Royal Air Force. In the following November, while’stationed at Blandford, Dorset,lie stole an army motor ear, and drove il direct to Hammersmith. Unable to sell the car, be abandoned il In (be street. It was soon after that that.he got in touch with a syndicate of wealthy dealers who were willing to buy any number of ears. They sold them again at enormous profits. Cars by the dozen, stolen from London-streets, found their way into the garages of this syndicate in various parts of the country. .Meredith was the ringleader of ilie lhieve,s, the daring spirit, who
wandered about (he West lend hunt’ng down mol or oars. He would sol his eyes on a oar and watch it tor days, noting its usual places of call, (ho length ol" its slay. Thou, at the appottune moment ho would climb nimbly into Ihe driver’s empty seat ami scurry away.
Sometimes he made as*much-as Cooo a week, but with him money was'made to spend, and he spoilt it all. He bought an elaborate and stylish wardrobe; occupied the lies! rooms in hotels; entertained his lew friends in princely style; and the lies! wines and tin? best cigars were never absent from his table.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2023, 2 September 1919, Page 4
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515EXPERT MOTOR THIEF. Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2023, 2 September 1919, Page 4
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