4,000 cars stolen in the eastern states in the last 12 months (Cairns Post, November 1947)
CAR STEALING RACKET DRASTICALLY CURBED BY QUEENSLAND POLICE EFFORTS.
BRISBANE, Nov. 16 1947. Queensland police are cracking down so hard on car thieves that so far this year only, one of 60 or 70 cars reported stolen in Brisbane has not been accounted for -and it has been missing for only two weeks.
Detection methods in this State have been so successful that clever CAR STEALING GANGS operating in SOUTHERN STATES have left Queensland severely alone.
The result is that few of our vehicles have gone to feed the HUGE BLACKMARKET IN STOLEN CARS which has been built up in New South Wales in the last two years.
Blackmarketeers in New South Wales are helped by the fact that in that State car engine numbers are not required on registration papers.
Altogether, nearly 4000 cars have been stolen in the eastern States in the last 12 months. (Do the sums: 4,000 cars @ 20 Aus pounds each in 1947 is now worth over $300,000,000)
A technique of the HIGHLY ORGANISED GANGS is to steal cars, preferably of the same make, and in well-fitted garages* to change their appearance by interchanging parts, and even repainting them.
They bring high prices on the starved car blackmarket in New South Wales and as no engine number is required for registration there is little chance of the fraud being discovered.
New South Wales and Queensland police co-operate fully in trying to defeat the Racketeers and prevent stolen cars from getting into New South Wales from Brisbane.
At 8:30 each morning the C.T.B. of each State sends a radio message to the other, listing the cars reported stolen the previous night.
These descriptions are distributed quickly to all wireless patrols and city and country-stations.
*ring a bell?
May 1947 – WANTED. Building suit workshop. URGENT . Thomson Box 953H
The Somerton Man .. 
Ask yourself, with that much money going around, do you think some heavyweight criminals might be interested in getting a share?
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… and forgive me for my suspicions, but why would a non-active WW2 inexperienced non-participent like Prosper be in such a hurry to arm himself … ?
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Following on Trove, all in “The Age” newspaper, by someone advertising as “Thomson”.
A. 10/2/45: Car Radio (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206862331?searchTerm=Thomson
B. 14/2/45: Austins Sports (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206868944?searchTerm=Thomson
C. 16/2/45: Wanted Ford A (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206863732?searchTerm=Thomson
D. 17/2/45: Austin 1929-30 (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206863154?searchTerm=Thomson
E. 25/4/45: Ford Prefect (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206865637?searchTerm=Thomson
F. 16/3/46: Car Radio (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206799888?searchTerm=Thomson
G. 15/6/46: Exch. Chev Tourer (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206104738?seachTerm=Thomson
Addresses for: A,B,D,E & F=108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone
Address for C=32 Venice St, Mentone, Phone: Chelt 83
Address for G=22 Elder Pa, Essendon
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Prosper admits he’s a dodgy car shark in court in the Daphne Page case and hes got form in WA.
With all the small adds I would need serious convincing that Prosper(George) wasn’t part of the black market car network at the exact same time that SM winds up dead up the road from his house. A guy whose come to town incognito carrying hand made tools that just happen to be a car thief’s essentials.
I don’t even care if hes Webb or not he was a car thief and Proper was his contact. Ive not seen another theory that matches better.
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A few more (multi) ads, by Thomson in “The Age”:
A. 22/4/44: Chev 4 1928 & Sedan, 1936 address given as 114 Balcombe Rd, Mentone (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206781188?searchTerm=Thomson
B. 27/5/44: Ford 10 HP; Morris 1938; Sedan Essex; Singer Single Seater; Utility Chrysler, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206793105?searchTerm=Thomson
C. 1/7/44: Chev. Nat. 1928; Fiat 9 HP; Ford 1936; Pontiac Coupe 1930, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206005093?searchTerm=Thomson
D. 20/12/44: Austin 10 HP; Plymouth 1933; Pontiac Chieftain; Utility 1938; Vauxhall 10 HP; Fiat Rdstr 10 HP; Morris 8/40, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206014701?searchTerm=Thomson
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Ads in “The Western Australia” by a Thomson:
A. 13/1/37: Willys 77, address McKail’s Office(?), National Mutual Bldg. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/41267903?searchTerm=Thomson
B. 14/1/37: Willys 77 (same address as above) (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/41267953?searchTerm=Thomson
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Thanks for all this, Clive, it’s getting more interesting as you go along.
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WA: Not sure if this ‘Thomson”, is Prosper or not! Just seems a bit odd only two ads.
Going by the advert in Dec 1944, he seems to have been quite a busy dealer!
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Not unusual that, but the fact that a man died close to his home who Dude identified as a possible car thief, then Prosper’s ads for firearms and all the while car gangs up and down the coast were reaping a fortune selling hot cars – you’d think a bloke like PT might have been worth recruiting.
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Speak to me Dusty, lurking ain’t your value ..
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Quite possible but, if car gangs had a notion that Prosper was being ‘tapped’ by the police, he would be a no-no?
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But he wasn’t, the police all but ignored him in their SM investigation. And given that 4,000 cars were stolen in 12 months, I’m thinking the car gangs responsible would have more than a couple of dealers on their books getting rid of them, like Prosper.
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Ads in “Telegraph” (Brisbane) by a Thomson:
A. 4/5/39: Austin 7 Tourer, address 50 McLachlan St, Valley. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/185114252?searchTerm=Thomson
B. 24/8/39: Overland Tourer, address Motor Works, McLachlan St, Valley. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/184898678?searchTerm=Thomson
C. 25/8/39: (Same advert as above) 184896344?
D. 3/11/39: For Sale-1920 Overland Tourer, address (as B & C) (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/184392857?searchTerm=Thomson
E. 7/3/40: 1929 8 HP Triumph Utility, address Cavell Tce, Ashgrove. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/187482029?searchTerm=Thomson
F. 8/3/40: (Same advert as above) 187486795?
G. 21/5/40: Car Generator Wanted, address 59 Kennigo St, Valley. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/184328325?searchTerm=Thomson
H. 29/11/40: Sell Kodak Supreme Camera, Thomson, B2928. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/184532980?searchTerm=Thomson
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Take it as a given that the Jan. 37 Willys ads culminate with Prosper’s first big take down by Ron Richards (later ASIO top G’man)) in Perth, whilst on assignment to Kansas con artist Dr. Harley Burch who was also best man at his wedding to Queenie in ’36. From memory Prosper was later living at Linden and/or Glenelg SA from then and up until his Vic. call to arms in 1941. All pretty well hacknied to death by time of Carl Webb’s entry to the SM Idenity wanabe farce, but if interested the Prosper/Burch bros. link can be had under the Dusty by-line at ‘The ‘Somerton Man Ultimate’ blo no longer active. Thanks for the invite Peteb.
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Gracias amigo, this mystery is nowhere near finished..
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Non-car ads in “The Age” by a Thomson:
A. 9/6/45: Radiogram Cavalcade, address 78 Naples Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204027783?searchTerm=Thomson
B. 7/7/45: Refrigerator Silent Knight, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204023926?searchTerm=Thomson
C. 4/8/45: Grandfather Clock & Electrolux Vac, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204024655?searchTerm=Thomson
D. 4/8/45: Rifle Single Shot, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204024654?search Term=Thomson
E. 20/1/46: Spray Painter Wanted, address Mentone Body Works, 1 Swanston St, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206800107?searchTerm=Thomson
F. 3/8/46: Exchange Savage 25/20 Rifle, address 32 Venice St, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206369431?searchTerm=Thomson
G. 10/8/46: Camera Miniature, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206372007?searchTerm=Thomson
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Ads in “The Age” by a Thomson:
A. 2/5/45: Austin 28 Tourer, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204027104?searchTerm=Thomson
B. 5/5/45: Austin 7 Tourer, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204021808?searchTerm=Thomson
C. 9/5/45: Morris 8/40 Tourer, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204013091?searchTerm=Thomson
D. 2/6/45: Trailer Set, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204020539?searchTerm=Thomson
E. 6/6/45: Plymouth Sedan 1938, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204016176?searchTerm=Thomson
F. 9/6/45: Vauxhall Wyvern Sedan, address 78 Naples Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204027784?searchTerm=Thomson
G. 16/6/45: Standard 10 HP, address as ‘F’. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204013681?searchTerm=Thomson
H. 20/6/45: (Same ad & address as 5/5/45), (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204020539?searchTerm=Thomson
I. 23/6/45: (Same ad & address as 5/5/45), (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204016648?searchTerm=Thomson
J. 27/6/45: Buick Light 6 Roadster, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204017327?searchTerm=Thomson
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Ads in “The Age” by a Thomson:
A. 30/6/45: Morris 1938 Tourer, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204022297?searchTerm=Thomson
B. 7/7/45: Austin 7 1928 Tourer, address as above. (trove/nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204023927?searchTerm=Thomson
C. 14/7/45: Truck 1942 Ford, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204026883?searchTerm=Thomson
D. 14/7/45: Truck 1935 Chev. address as above+same i.d.
E. 21/7/45: Ford Prefect, address 78 Naples Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204018671?searchTerm=Thomson
F. 28/7/45: Exchange Ford 10 HP, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204025254?searchTerm=Thomson
G. 2/8/45: Ford Sedan 1933, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204027323?searchTerm=Thomson
H. 4/8/45: Chev. 1936, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204024657?searchTerm=Thomson
I. 8/8/45: (Same ad & address as ‘H’). (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20406376?searchTerm=Thomson
J. 11/8/45: Singer 1938 Tourer, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204012950?searchTerm=Thomson
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“spray painter wanted” 20/1/46
Of coarse he needed a spray painter. The guy was clearly a fence during this period offloading everything from cars to guns to refrigerators.
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Ads in “The Age” by a Thomson:
A. 15/8/45: Austin 7 1928 Tourer, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204020997?searchTerm=Thomson
B. 22/8/45: Austin 7 Tourer, address as above. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204018482?searchTerm=Thomson
C. 29/8/45: (same ad & address as ‘B’). (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204013980?searchTerm=Thomson
D. 22/9/45: Chev. 1940, address Mentone Car Sales, 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205643960?searchTerm=Thomson
E. 27/10/45: Chrysler CO2 Sedan, address 108 Balcombe Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205651303?searchTerm=Thomson
F. 10/11/45: Standard 10 HP, address 78 Naples Rd, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205641950?searchTerm=Thomson
G. 20/7/46: Dodge Tourer ’27, address 11 Meryl St, Malvern. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206367884?searchTerm=Thomson
H. 10/8/46: Chev. 1941, address 32 Venice St, Mentone. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206372009?searchTerm=Thomson
I. 13/8/46: Exch. Pontiac 6, address 32 Venice St, Mentone, Chelt 1243. (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206370864?searchTerm=Thomson
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Clive, was there in other wording in the ads, like ‘urgent’ or ‘desperately needed’?
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Pete, I don’t recall seeing any advert as ‘urgent’ or ‘desperately needed’. I’m wondering how come Prosper had 3-4 different addresses? The ads seemed to have dropped from Aug 1946, I’m assuming that’s when Prosper was planning his move to SA?
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A couple of interesting cases from Victoria, from “The Age”:
2/7/46: (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206375289?=searchTerm=car documentation fraud.
27/7/46: (trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206368680?=searchTerm=car documentation fraud.
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Following ads from “The Age”:
A. 5/4/47: Wheel wanted-urgent
B. 21/5/47: Fog Lamp-Urgent
C. 25/6/47: Same ad as 21/5/47
D. 25/10/47: Wire-Urgent
E. 1/11/47: Linoleum-urgent
F. 6/12/47: Bricks-urgent
Probably nothing to do with Prosper but, surname was Thomson and same tel. number U2311.
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Christopher Gordon Cramer needs to note the following ..
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42549954?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FC%2Ftitle%2F61%2F1947%2F11%2F17%2Fpage%2F3041211%2Farticle%2F42549954#
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What happened to the “headline grabber” (Jojo/GC) vis-a’- vis ‘Peter Bowes on 4000 cars stolen in the easte …’ can’t seem to find those big bold headlines of your’n Peteb; surely not wiped already?
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https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42549954?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FC%2Ftitle%2F61%2F1947%2F11%2F17%2Fpage%2F3041211%2Farticle%2F42549954#
Come on in jojo, be brave, we don’t bite.
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Funny peculiar be that some years back pre Webb, I commented on an interstate car stealing ring based in Sth Aust. that ended up in Queensland courts. Head honcho Al John (suspected nazi assassin) being sought for very sophisticate car heists in both Sydney & Melbourne. He had some interesting things to tell the judge when pleading guilty, about others in the clique including one of his offsiders who ended up working for German radio propaganda in the war, another in an Adelaide asylum, and one of Mango’s twin sisters who sold him a motorbike. He ended up being deported to Germany, later settling in London where he became a well known dealer in ancient manuscripts. Nobody at CM paid any interest to my lead, and if you don’t mind my saying so, I can see something similar happening to your own tale re Prosper’s likely part in 4000 a year racket. He was born in Qld.
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