XN000022-1984-09-05 — Page 10

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1984

MR GODFREY SAID IT WOULD HELP CONSIDERABLY IF IDENTIFICATION MARKS WERE ETCHED ON THE GLASS AND OTHER PARTS OF CARS. THIS WOULD MAKE THE JOB OF THE RINGER MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND MUCH LESS PROFITABLE.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY CAR THEFTS THAT THE TEAM DEALS WITH. ENQUIRIES HAVE REVEALED SOME VERY DIRTY, LOW TRADE TRICKS OF MAKING CARS APPEAR NEWER THAN THEY ARE BY MASKING THE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE.

REGISTERED IN 1976 HAD BEEN GIVEN A ALLOY WHEELS, FLANGED MUDGUARDS AND HAD THE BOOT ALTERED.

FOR INSTANCE A BMW SUN-ROOF, REAR SPOILER, HAD ITS MODEL NUMBER ON

SAID MR GODFREY:

IF I'D SEEN THAT CAR DRIVEN DOWN THE STREET I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT FOR A 1980S REGISTERED MODEL. WITHOUT CHECKING CAREFULLY, THE AVERAGE BUYER WOULD CERTAINLY BE FOOLED. ''

**WE KNOW OF ONE ORGANISATION THAT OPERATES FROM A PRIVATE HOUSE WITH SEVERAL TELEPHONES. THEY ADVERTISE CARS FOR PRIVATE SALE IN THE NEWSPAPER.

"'WHEN SOMEONE RINGS UP ABOUT A PARTICULAR MODEL THEY SEND A SALESMAN ROUND WHO PRETENDS TO BE THE OWNER OR SON OF THE OWNER AND GIVES SOME STORY ABOUT THE FAMILY EMIGRATING SO THEY HAVE TO SELL THE CAR.

''IF A BUYER IS INTERESTED THE SALESMAN TAKES HIM TO A HIRE PURCHASE COMPANY TO ARRANGE A LOAN. UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCE THE HIRE PURCHASE COMPANY RETAINS THE LOG BOOK UNTIL THE LOAN IS PAID.

''ITS'S NOT UNTIL THE BUYER HAS PAID OFF THE LOAN THAT HE FINDS OUT FROM THE LOG BOOK THAT THE CAR IS A MUCH EARLIER MODEL THAN THE ONE HE THOUGHT HE WAS BUYING."

MR GODFREY STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE CRIME UN IT WAS MAKING LIFE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR CAR THIEVES MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COULD ALSO HELP BY EXERCISING GREATER CARE WHEN BUYING SECOND-HAND CARS.

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