WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1984
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''SOME PEOPLE ARE EVEN USING STOLEN ID CARDS TO GET CARS REGISTERED TO HELP THROW US OFF THE TRAIL.
''IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THERE ARE HIGHLY ORGANISED SYNDICATES OPERATING THE CAR RACKETS. THERE ARE THREE GROUPS: THOSE THAT STEAL THE CARS, THOSE WHO DO THE RINGING, THAT IS ALTERING THE CHASSIS NUMBER AND CAR'S APPEARANCE, AND THOSE WHO DO THE SELLING.
TO COMBAT THE SYNDICATES IT WAS DECIDED LAST MAY TO SET UP A TEAM OF SPECIALISTS IN THE CAR TRADE WHO KNEW THE MOTOR BUSINESS.
ALREADY THE TEAM HAS HAD SOME SUCCESS. THIS MONTH ALONE THEY HAVE MADE 16 ARRESTS IN WHICH 30 CARS WERE INVOLVED AND FROM WHICH ABOUT 50 CHARGES ARE LIKELY TO ARISE.
THE RCU 6 COMMANDING OFFICER MR GODFREY SAID:
''ALL THE MEN IN THE UNIT HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ON THE FRINGES OF THE CAR TRADE.
THE WORD IS NOW OUT THAT THERE IS A SPECIALIST CAR THEFT UNIT THAT KNOWS WHAT IT IS DOING.'*
IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY VEHICLE CRIMES OF ONE TYPE OR ANOTHER ARE POPULAR THE REWARDS ARE HIGH.
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ONE CASE CONCERNED A MERCEDES BENZ WHICH WAS WRITTEN OFF BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY AND SOLD FOR SCRAP. THE CHASSIS NUMBER WAS CUT OUT AND FIXED TO ANOTHER MERCEDES WHICH HAD BEEN STOLEN. THE STOLEN CAR, REPAINTED AND OTHERWISE ALTERED IN APPEARANCE WAS PUT ON THE OPEN MARKET FOR $200 000.
SPARE PARTS AND ACCESSORIES, STRIPPED FROM STOLEN CARS IS HIGHLY PROFITABLE.
COST $15 000 THESE ACCESSORIES THEY ARE EASY
''A GOOD SET OF ALLOY WHEELS AND TYRES CAN WHILE A GOOD RADIO CAN COST $10 000 TO $12 000. ARE THE CREAM ON THE CAKE WHEN A CAR IS STOLEN. TO GET RID OF BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS THE BEST IN HONG KONG, ** MR GODFREY EXPLAINED.
ONE CAR COMPANY IS KNOWN TO HAVE HANDLED AS MUCH AS $1 MILLION WHORTH OF STOLEN CARS IN THE PAST YEAR.
LIKE STOLEN COMPUTER PARTS, STOLEN CAR PARTS, ONCE STRIPPED FROM THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE, ARE HARD TO IDENTIFY. THE MOST POPULAR MODELS FOR CAR THIEVES ARE MIDDLE-OF-THE RANGE JAPANESE CARS AND THESE MODELS HAVE ONLY TWO IDENTIFICATION MARKS ON THE WHOLE CAR.
PARTS FROM EUROPEAN MODELS ARE EASIER TO IDENTIFY AS THESE CARS CARRY MANY MORE MARKS, ALTHOUGH FOR OBVIOUS REASONS THE TEAM IS RELUCTANT TO DISCUSS THIS AS EVEN SOME OF THE CAR THIEVES DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MARKS ARE.
/ME GOLFREY