Here is an interesting and disturbing peek into a criminal subculture. In this article,

"Task-force detectives have found auto thieves high on the drug who had been awake for two days straight, and who steal cars as simply a means to get around. In between, they shoplift, run drugs, steal mail and write bad checks. They prowl cars for items to pawn, and steal coats when they are cold.

The task force is turning up other tidbits of useful information. Here are a few:

• The tools du jour in car-burglary kits are shaved keys — keys that are filed down and then jiggled in a door lock or an ignition switch to open a door or start the car.

• Some thieves take license plates off stolen vehicles and put fake temporary-license notices in the rear window in an attempt to fool police.

• One thief showed Nelson how to grab the window of a particular make of car and pull it out far enough to stick an arm in and unlock the door, without breaking anything."