THE MOTOR CAR THIEVES.

The New York Times
April 25, 1914

As a result of work initiated by Mr. Job Lippincott, Commissioner of Motor Vehicles of New Jersey, Daniel Reilly and "Liverpool Jack" Walker have been convicted of stealing motor cars in New York and disposing of them in New Jersey, and Chester Travers and John Chandler, members of the gang, are now in the Tombs Prison in this city.  Inspector Shedd, detailed by Commissioner Lippincott, has arrested John Gargare, who is awaiting trial at Toms River, N. J., on a charge of acting as a receiver of the stolen automobiles.

The "fence" would find out what kind of car a prospective purchaser wanted; the thieves would thereupon steal a car of that description, take it to Lakewood, N. J., dismantle it, and very cleverly change its appearance, besides transposing the numbers.  Commissioner Lippincott complains that the automobile thieves are successful because the insurance adjusters, with some notable exceptions, are more eager to get a car back than to get the criminals prosecuted.  Until recently it was customary to offer a large reward for the return of the car and little or no reward for the apprehension of the thieves.  Some adjusters would not stickle at shielding a thief, paying the reward advertised, and blocking all efforts at arrest.

If there is power enough in the District Attorney's office it should see to it when an insurance adjuster or a police officer secures the return of a car stolen from an owner in this city that the full details of the transaction are handed over to the prosecuting attorney.  The books of the adjusters should be placed at the service of the District Attorney, and they should be required to give full information.