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Show AUTOTHEFTS AREGROWING Four Year Figures From 23 Cities Show Large Increase ST. LOUIS, Mo, July 1. Automobile Automo-bile thefts seem to keep right alonjr with automobile production, according to statistics of 28 "index" cities for which complete four-year figures have been kept by the National Automobile Dealers' association Those 28 cities show that 37,554 motor mo-tor rehf&lei were stolen in 1!'21 and 21.273 recovered. The number unre-covered unre-covered was 40 per cent of thp total.' the highest noted In tho four ypars. Indlcalng that the thieves not only' are keeping abreast of tl'- production but forging ahead of the police departments de-partments and (he legislative bodies in means devised to safeguard the A summary of the four year figures for the 28 cities 'follows 1918 1919 1920 1921 Stolen . 27,443 33.508 30,046 37,554 Recovered 21.673 24,740 21.273 26.517 I'nrecovered 2lcc 20 29, 40 j New York again heads the list with total number stolen. 6808. Chicago Is j a close second with 6799 Chicago re coverls. 4438. however, were greatly In excess of the recoveries In New York, 451. Twen'y -one cities showed a greater number stolen in 1921 than In 1920. Cleveland. Portland. Oregon., Seattle Salt Lake, Columbus. Ohio. I York. Pa , and Richmond. Ya , showed, fewer thefts in 1921 than in 1920. "The greatest handicap uudor which! the police are laboring in the recovery nf stolen vehicles," according to C A. Yane, general manager of the association, associa-tion, "i.s lax of enforcement of laws to i punish motor vehicle thieves. Courts' are unduly lenient with this class or' offenders. Charges are continued against such law-breakers until the patience ot the witnesses Is exhaust-, ed, finally resulting in dismissals and nolle prosequi? ' A tendency was also noted during th 1921 depression, for owners ot in sured vehicles to conspire for the disappearance dis-appearance of the vehicles In order to collect the Insurance Numerous eit- ' los ovor the country reported the recovery re-covery of motor cars from quarries. ' pi's and rivers, that had been reported report-ed stolen and which the police declare' were clearly disposed of, with the connivance con-nivance of the owner. oo |