Garwood shrugged his shoulders. “Perhaps,” he acquiesced. “It is automobile thieving that interests me, though. Why,” he went on, rising excitedly, “the gangs of these thieves are getting away with half a million dollars’ worth of high-priced cars every year. The police seem to be powerless to stop it. We appeal to them, but with no result. So, now we have taken things into our own hands.”
“What are you doing in this case?” asked Kennedy.
“What the insurance companies have to do to recover stolen automobiles,” Garwood replied. “For, with all deference to your friend, Deputy O’Connor, it is the insurance companies rather than the police who get stolen cars back.”
He had pulled out a postal card from a pigeon hole in his desk, selecting it from several apparently similar. We read:
$250.00 REWARD
We will pay $100.00 for car, $150.00 additional for information which will convict the thief. When last seen, driven by a woman, name not known, who is described as dark-haired, well-dressed, slight, apparently thirty years old. The car is a Dixon, 1912, seven-passenger, touring, No. 193,222, license No. 200,859, New York; dark red body, mohair top, brass lamps, has no wind shield; rear axle brake band device has extra nut on turnbuckle not painted. Car last seen near Prince Henry Hotel, New York City, Friday, the 10th.
Communicate by telegraph or telephone, after notifying nearest police department, with Douglas Garwood, New York City.
“The secret of it is,” explained Garwood, as we finished reading, “that there are innumerable people who keep their eyes open and like to earn money easily. Thus we have several hundreds of amateur and enthusiastic detectives watching all over the city and country for any car that looks suspicious.”
Kennedy thanked him for his courtesy, and we rose to go. “I shall be glad to keep you informed of anything that turns up,” he promised.