FEWER LONDON LORRY THEFTS
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rVIDENCE that the fight against lorry I-5 thieves in the London area is having some effect is provided by figures for the Metropolitan Police District which were presented to the vehicles' security committee of the Road Haulage Association at a meeting in London on Monday.
There were 930 cases of theft of and from commercial vehicles in the third quarter of 1963, compared with 1,000 cases in the corresponding quarter of .1962, but the value of the goods stolen decreased by about one-third from £156,000 to £l05,O00:
Mr. J. T. Brown, chairman of the vehicles' security committee, gave up-todate details at the meeting of the work of the vehicle observer corps. Between its foundation in July, 1962, and October of this year the corps received 730 calls and recovered 23 vehicles. During the three months from August to October. 1963, there were 136 calls as a result of which five vehicles (three loaded, two empty) were recovered. lii the comparable three months of last year only 65 calls were received.
By far the greater number of thefts continues to occur north of the Thames and vehicles under three tons unladen are preponderant among those stolen.
Between August and October this year, 80 of the vehicles involved were three THE first model in a new range of fast' travel mobile cranes has been introduced by K. and L. Steelfounders Ltd., Letchworth, Herts. Called the Jones KL 3-7 Fleetmaster, the crane is based on a Bedford TK chassis and cab, modified in certain respects.
Strut or cantilever jib types are offered, capacity as indicated by the model name in both cases being 3-tons free-on-wheels and 7-ton blocked on outriggers. The main feature of the Fleetmaster crane is that it can travel at road speeds of up to 47 m.p.h., which makes the design particularly suitable for use in hire fleets and for work on a number of small sites where the amount of time required on each does not warrant the semi-permanent location of more usual types of mobile or lorry-mounted cranes.
Basic jib length of the Kt, 3-7 is 20 ft, c12 tonners or less, and 65 were over three tons. Many more thefts were discovered (and presumably also took place) between 6 a.m. and noon (59) and between 5 p.m. and 6 a.m. (40) than between noon and 2 p.m. (21) or 2 p.m. and 5 p.rn. (15). This time/thefts relationship is approximately the same for the period July, 1952, to October, 1963.
As revealed last week, Glasgow is to have its own anti-theft observer corps by Christmas, and the R.H.A. says that act;ve steps are now being taken to set up similar bodies in several parts of the country.
The figures in the table below do not include vehicles hi-jacked or stolen from private premises. During July, 1963, two lorries in South-east London were hi-jacked. They were carrying c:garettes and tObacco valued at approximately £20,000 and .E10,000. Part of the cargo valued at £1,500 was recovered after the first of the two thefts.
A lorry with cigarettes valued at £35,000 was hi-jacked in West London. Part of the load worth £16,000 was recovered and two men were subsequently charged.
In the third quarter of 1953 there were 250 cases of thefts from private premises of vehicles carrying goods worth £8,500 of which £1,000 was -recovered.
in either .strut or cantilever with the maximum 60 ft. and 40 ft. respectively. The rated capacity quoted is for the basic jib length at 10 ft. radius. Basic price is £5,690 and gross weight is 13.5 tons.
The crane is controlled from the vehicle cab, a rear-facing folding seat is mounted in the centre behind the driver's seat and a glazed dome is incorrorated in the roof. Modifications to the Bedford chassis include fitting heavy-duty front springs and making the rear suspension rigid by strapping the axle to the crane base. The engine is a Bedford 130-cu.-in. diesel which also powers the crane.
Other models in the Fleetrnaster range to be developed are the KL 5-9 (strut or cantilever). KL 7-11 (cantilever) and KL 7-15 (strut). The 5-9 will be based on a four-wheel chassis, whilst the 7-11 and 7-15 will be six wheelers.
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DISTRICT Value Value recovered Persons charged 6 f . 393 500 .. .. 37 500 14$ . 510000 .. .. 41 000 207 . 606 000 .. . 32 000 230