FILE PATHCASE FILES/THE CRIMES
DETROIT CRIME · AUTOMOBILES

AUTO THEFT & MOBILITY.

In the Motor City, the automobile changed the scale of crime and policing. A car could be a target, a tool, a getaway vehicle, a mobile hiding place, or a link between separate incidents.

Traffic at 5:30 on Second Avenue, Detroit, Mich.
REAL DETROIT SOURCE · Second Avenue traffic at 5:30 p.m., Detroit, July 1942.
Source: Arthur S. Siegel / source record · Public domain — FSA/OWI
READING THE CITY

What to look at.

Vehicle as target

Theft can involve the entire automobile, parts, contents, or fraud surrounding ownership and sale.

Vehicle as tool

Cars extend operating range, enable faster escape, and allow offenders to move property or people between neighborhoods.

Identification

License plates, make, model, color, damage, distinctive features, ownership records, and witness descriptions become investigative details.

Street network

Major roads, bridges, downtown traffic, industrial corridors, and suburban boundaries affect pursuit and search.

Detroit context

Automobile production, ownership, repair shops, used-car markets, and a vast road network make mobility a central part of understanding the city.

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