Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-04-12
AlMan0ria 6ax&tte
FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL H. 1878.
Burglary n Science.

Burglary a Science.
, The appliances of the first class burglars arc
. changed to meet almost all the changes 10 pre-
ventive inventions. The hydraulic jack to fore
in safe looks, the cylinders of compressed oxy'
gen and hydrogen to burn through steel. ard
, the other scientific as we'll as ingenious appIiau
ces used by the big operators show this. The
first and simplest tool 10 burglars outfit Is "
window knife. This is q thin, very flexible,
broad ended knife, more resembling paint
knife than anything else. With it, in two sec
onds, the clumsiest burglar can turn back tho
simple catch so generally used throughout tho
city to fastep windows. The thin blade can be
easily twisted up between the two sashcs, and
a light pressure throws tho catch to one side or
the other, and leaves the window free to open.
This is as useful as it is simple, and the wonder
is that that style Of fastening is 80 generally
used. Lately, however, new brass catch,
which works up and down, and is fastened by
pin, has been invented, and is proof against
| the knife.
The art of window opening, however, makes
| necessary in some cases diamond to cut tho
glass. This brings into requsltion sucker
"a disk of wet leather with string tied to 1t,
such as boys use as playthlng. This Is hrst
fastened to the upper pane and the cutter run
around it 10 circle. When the glass is severed
it cliDgs to the leather and the piece is removed
to the outside without noise or fracture CT tho
contiguous glass. Another and simple meth
cd in avoiding noise, utilized in breaking into
stores with thin glass windows, is to paste a
large sheet of stout paper over the lass Till It
adheres firmly in every part, and then broak
the glass. Tho pieces cling to the paper aud
no jingling or noise Of any kind ls made.
and the window can bo neatly taken out
in fragments. The next article 10 the outfit
is skeleton key. These are as old as the 10
,s.-..!on of tumbler locks. Before that inven'
tion it needed ht,ie sA,! practlce, y, -
crooked wire, notchcd knlfeblade or anything
else that came handy, to pick the simple lockE.
The new invention, however, brought skeletons
into vogue. A skeleton is simply the simplest
shape of key. The shank is filed down thin
8, as to enter any lock easily, and the ward Of
tho key is the same SIZE as that OF any Key
but consists only of small 'I'' shaped piece
of steel or brass, as the case may be. Ihls IL
the simplest variety. and will suit the argts:
number of looks. There are some. however,
10 which the wards are trfe more complex,
which suit different brands OF locks. No re-
spectacle thief, however, is without Two or
three kinds. The next implement is pair OF
nippers or "nips," as the police abbreVlatc It,
which are used when key is turned and leit
10 the lock.
"Nips' are pairs of pinccr5 which arc in
serted to grasp the end of the key. The clutch
ing portion is so small as to easily enter lock,
and when closed the end appears like
hollow piece of steel no thicker than key
shank. The ends arc notchcd, however, ust
as pair Of pincers are rougheoed, so as uot to
slip when the end of the key is grasped, and
as most keys are pointed at the end. the opera
ton of grasping it is facilitated. Some orgi'
nality is displayed by thieves in getting up
these, and some years ago the work OF DurG'
lar named Winter, since killed 10 light, Waa
always detected by pair Of 'nips' which ne
used used Instead Of having little notchcs all
around the end, he had only four, equally DIS
tant from each other, and the marks on the
brass key which his instrument lett were thus
always detected The 'nips" are largely
used and are very effective, the only pre-.
yention against them being something that
will make the key immovabe. OF these pre-
yentiyes the best is thick bent wire. 10 the
shape of harpin that hangs down from the
shaft of the door. knob and passes through the
ring Of the key. The commonest burgarlous
instrument is the Jimmy" and its uses arc
manifold. 1t is bs' of steel. one end OF which
| is curved at right angle SOMETHING'S one end
| is sha-pened to point and sometimes 0olh,
or one is nattened out and sharpened like
crowbsr. They are of various lengths and
| weights, and q well.to.do burglar generally has
! several They subserve all the uses of crow
4 bar and drill With them it is no trick at all to
force open wooden door, breaking the lock or
twisting it out of place by main force. Is Also
g. very successful tool in prying open tho IRON
| d oor of q building or safe. being used IN tho
| lstter case when 9 partial entrance has baen
made. Bulls eye lanterns, 80 Owed by dimG
novel writer's have passed out OF date, small
! candles being used. This calls to mind Inc lacs
| that the work of Root and Schacht the cham
pions, p,ss always spotted by the red candlc
/ grease which thoy left behind them, their cu;-
! tom beinC to use the small Christmas tree can
| dies. Masks are rarely used. and If worn arc
usually of the simplest construction, q pieco OF
| black cloth with oye and mouth holes serving
both The pur DOSES of disguise and terror, in case
| q startled individual awskes st night TO hno :"
| Ghost with q cand!e 8 blssk mask and revol-
Yer bending over him. With regard 90 skole-
tons one nge uious atyle the invention o. q
! SYDNEY thief, h ss strangely fallen into dlsuse
| There were nu mber Of wards to it which could
| be fitted TO the snank one after the other. q
| small screw in the end Of tho shank holding
| them in place. The possessor could Try one 81
| ter the other, and eventually y unlock any doot
| fastened by an ordinary key. A simple Doll
ls the best protection for door, that being, IN
| police psrlsnce, the ealy thing thstll beat Il
| thief" Their only lnesls of opening the door
1 is 10 bore through and saw around lt-an opera
! ton involving much time and trouble.
! A. GLACHET,