Jim Winner died at 81. He developed the Club Antitheft device for cars, changing the lives of car thieves and car owners. No longer could someone with a screwdriver pop the ignition and drive a car away, basically without fear of being caught; no longer did drivers park their cars, fearing they would not be there upon return. Not sure whether theft insurance dropped in price, but anxiety certainly did.
In 1985, I served a minor role as part of a defense team in an organized crime case brought by then U.S. Attorney Guiliani entitled U.S. v DiNom. The indictment contained, among other things: a RICO charge involving the takeover of a Westchester nightclub; 25 murders committed by the “killer crew”headed by Nino Gaggi and Roy DeMeo; drug dealing; and car thefts. The trial had be bifurcated into two parts: the murders and the cars. As to the last set of charges, it was alleged that that mostly American made cars were taken off the streets and shipped on boats to places like the Middle East. Someone on the defense team suggested that no one could approach a car, gain entrance, start it up in, I forget, less than 10 seconds. Supposedly, a demonstration was conducted that refuted the thought. A club, which did not come into prominence until 1986 may have made it more difficult.
We lived in Prospect Lefferts Manor, Brooklyn, an auto-theft and break-in paradise. We had a Maxima which we called “Max.” He was stolen two times. Both times he was recovered. The first time, he came back with no tires, no rims, no radio, and nothing in the glove compartment or trunk. Our garageman refitted him. Insurance paid. The second time, Sharon found him a few days after his theft, parked three blocks from the house. A person sat in the driver’s seat listening to a tape. Sharon yelled at him. He got out of the car, leaving a screwdriver and taking the tape.
When the Club became a fixture in all the cars on the block, I never heard of another car being stolen.
