Thieves are Getting More
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Efficient, Warns Mr. O'Reilly
" 'THIEVES are getting more efficient" I said Mr. N. T. O'Reilly. chairman of the Road Haulage Association's veh:cles' security 'committee, at a press conference in London last Monday at which he announced the winners of a competition to find equipment giving the best ail-round protection against lorry thieves.
Of more than 40 safely devices tested by the panel of judges, which included brake, steering and ignition locking systems, the winning entry was that entered by the Patfield Electrical Service of 63a Lyndhural Way, London, S.E.15.
Known as Malco," the system— which was described fully in The Commercial Motor of April 14, 1961—is in two parts. One immobilizes the engine. The other locks all doors.
The action of stopping the engine brings into operation a system which breaks the starting circuit in three places, disconnects the main battery feeds and, where electronic locks are incorporated, locks the stop arm of the fuel pump in the stop position.
The engine can be restarted by using a special key, enabling the starter and the fuel-injection pump to be operated. Any attempt to use the starting equipment in the normal way or to push in the stop arm sets off an alarm which continues to sound until the master key is inserted by the driver.
Giving details of thefts in the Metropolitan area. Mr. O'Reilly said that whilst there were 300 fewer thefts in 1960 compared with 1959, the value of goods stolen last year was much more.
A disturbing feature was that in 1959, L90 000-worth of goods were recovered and there were 310 convictions, while last year only f24,000-worth of goods were recovered. and the convictions had dropped to 260. There was reason to believe that the situation was far worse Ih]s year.
" The only way we feel we can overcome the apathy of hauliers who have the feeling, ' It's all right Jack, it can happen to you, but not to me,' is to have continual information on matters of security which we hope will prey on their consciences, and lead them to do something about it," he added.
Mainly for Export
EXECUT1VES and clerks from the road transport and other Leicester industries are enrolling for a course on Export Documentation which will take place in Leicester on October 24, 25 and 26.
Organized by Leicester and County Chamber of Commerce, the course is designed for firms engaged or intending to engage in export business and will give them an insight into the production of documents against export orders.