100 Years Ago: Oct. 3-10

From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, October 8, 1914: One of the latest fads in the up-to-date thievery that has been going on in this city for the last few months and which the members of the police department have been unable to stop, is the stealing of Prest-O-Lite gas tanks from automobiles. According to reports coming from the office of the Prest-O-Lite Co, the new style of thievery began about three weeks ago, but since that time the company has received three and four complaints each day from owners of machines regarding the loss of tanks. It is said any number have been taken from cars parked in the vicinity of theaters and business houses in the city. The tanks that provide dependable light for an automobile are valued at $18 and $20 (2013: $412.64 and $458.49).