e
By JANET SUTTER
Copley News Service
Donald Bledsoe fanned out four long pieces of metal
he called “Ford picks” - they can unlock 98 percent of
the automobiles made by Ford. Bledsoe got this set
legally for $60; he is a licensed repossessor.
But he picked up many a car illegally when he was
an auto thief.
Bledsoe was in and out of prison for some 32 years
until a judge and attorney suggested he consider the
legitimate business of car repossessing, for which he
was already skilled. Bledsoe now is a spokesman for
auto alarms made by Alpine Electronics of America.
He has a lot to say about preventing theft of
automobiles or anything left inside them:
— Park a car near lots of people and traffic. If it’s
night, park close to lights. Bledsoe mentioned he had
seen a Corvette parked behind a tree in a shopping
center, making it difficult to be seen by shoppers.
“Somebody could work on that Corvette with no
detection from the building. Never park your car in a
secluded area.” ;
—- Never leave coats, wearing apparel or anything
that looks expensive locked in a car. Never leave a
purse or briefcase inside and visible. Some times,
even a fancy case for glasses that resembles a purse
can lure a thief to break into a car. Take time to put
packages in the trunk.
— Avoid valet parking, particularly when there is
not a secure lot or area for the car. Valets often park
cars on the street and leave the keys in a certain place
in the cars, rather than in a key safe, Bledsoe said.
‘“They’re looking for a tip and the quicker they can get
that car to you, the better,’ he said. Ask the valet if
he has a special secure place to put the keys.
“If you have an alarm (system), under no circum-
stances give the code to an attendant. People buy that
kind of information from those who park cars.”
Bledsoe suggests if the street is the only place to
park a car, park it yourself or wait until the car is
parked and get your key back.
— Park the car close to the house, in the driveway if
possible. It is more vulnerable at the curb.
— If you park at the curb, install a light on the
house that shines on the car, thus protecting your
house as well as the car.
— If you have an alarm system, it is good to have a
backup power source or two separate alarms, because
if a thief gets to the power source, such as the battery,
he can dismantle any alarm system.
— A very loud alarm is the best security, although
Bledsoe admits a thief given any time can dismantle
any system. An alarm buys time; it slows down a
thief.
What happens when you actually see somebody
trying to steal your or a neighbor’s car? Don’t rush up
Bledsoe, or you’ll be the one to wind up on trial.
Simply, from a distance, call out, ‘Can I help you?
That’s my car.” Then hasten inside and call the
police. ’
THE DALLAS POST/Wednesday, October 15, 1986 13
Be prepared
Gadgets galore!
By NANETTE WISER
Copley News Service
car breakdowns, there’s an alternative to outside-the-
car flares or cellular phones that allow you to call
police from the safety of your car. A highway
car than on a year’s wardrobe.
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emergency banner allows you to stay in your car and
post a banner that says, ‘Call police” to passing
motorists.
Inter-car' communication also can take on a less
serious note. If you see a pretty girl in the next car,
flash your ‘‘What’s your phone number’’ or ‘‘Pull over
at the next coffee shop for some coffee’ flash note for
a bit of fun.
Aside from communicating with others or promoting
safety, there are gadgets that make your car less drab
on the inside. Coffee cup holders that attach to the
dashboard or floorboard or mugs with a pyramid-
shaped bottom do away with spills while the car is
moving. Talking book and language tape cassettes
send inane radio chatter into the silent zone and allow
the commuter to get smart while getting there. Tissue
holders have expanded into compartmentalized mini-
files. holding everything from a makeup mirror for
easy touch-up to a Dictaphone.
High tech has wheels in today’s new cars as well.
Fluorescent dashboards, hood raindrop detectors that
automatically activate the windshield wipers, soothing
female voices that remind you your window isn’t
closed and digital dashboards with computer screens
for electronic road mapping are just some of the
innovations.
Fuel gauges aren’t what they used to be, either. No
more interpreting when the pointer is on ‘‘E”’ - today’s
car offers a bar chart gas gauge that turns yellowish-
orange when fuel is almost nil.
Look to tomorrow for touch-sensitive digital display
screens that turn on the radio and regulate tempera-
ture. Or punch in your coordinates before a trip and
watch an arrow on the dash tell you what direction to
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