THEY WENT THAT AWAY: EARLY AUTO THEFTS IN FRANKLIN LAKES.

THEY WENT THAT AWAY:

EARLY AUTO THEFTS IN FRANKLIN LAKES.

BY

JACK GOUDSWARD.

     Over the course of a year local newspapers reported a number of automobiles stolen from in and around Franklin Lakes. Many residents thought that this something new that has come to our fair town. But that is far from the case. It seams that no one is spared from this problem.

     Such is the case of our first Mayor William V. Pulis. On November 21, 1933 he parked his new Buick coup at the Masonic Lodge in Butler N.J. Returning from the meeting he found his car gone. Two months to the day he received a call from the Newark Police during a borough meeting that his car had been found. Concluding the meeting the mayor left with Chief Bender, Chief Pulis, Police Commissioner Robert Bender and Harry Snyder to retrieve his car.

     Arriving in Newark they found the car in good order.  The car now has Morris County plates on it, but no real damage. The mayor was glad to see and get back his car. But there was a touch of sadness. It seams a week before the mayor bought a new car just like it.

    But not all cases ended happily. Such is the case of Alvin Packer who had his car stolen out of his garage on Franklin Lakes Road. A call was put out over the police radio but the car was not sighted. A week later Mr. Packer got a call from the Pennsylvania State Police informing him that they had found his car in Cresville Pa.. They stated that the car was driven up an embankment and then turned over and rolled down causing extensive damage.

    Sometimes the auto theft is the cause the displeasure and loss of services to the local residents. This happened when a 1933 Packard struck a power pole near the Crystal Lake Station then on High Mountain Road. This caused the lights and power to go out in the area. Workmen from Rockland electric started an investigation to the cause. They found the blood stained car and called Chief Pickering.   Area Doctors were called to see if anyone had sought their care. No one did.  It was not until 1 A.M. that Haledon Police informed Franklin Lakes Police that the car was taken from Haledon N.J.   

    A week later a 14 year old Paterson boy and another Juvenile were arrested for the theft. The car belonged to Bernard Kettman of Oxford Street Haledon. The boys stole the car from in front of a saloon on Belmont Ave. They drove to Franklin Lakes and hit the pole. The driver was knocked unconscious. He came to before they were found. He washed his wounds in a near by brook and walked home. Haledon Police caught the boys after questioning local corner gangs. The more things change the more they stay the same.