New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-29
PROFESSIONAL THIEVES.
HOW THEY LIVE AND WORK.

"New- York thieves" said Police Superln-
tendent waling the other day. Of two sors-those
who only when they tempted by want when
an unusual opportunity successful hevng is thrown
in their way those who make regular business Of
stealing The first class embraces Of every grade in
society," from tho president OF bank who appropriafes
million OF dgars to his down to the poor me-
chane who steals loaf of bread to feed his starving
family 1t is difeult TO imagine grades Of excellence in
business low professional thieving, and yet tho
old adage, It takes smart to make good thief
Is true enough. professional thief ranks among his
fellows according to his ability. Many professional
thieves are burglars They drink TO excess, and
commit many plumbers that they easily detected
by the police. They gamble a great deal. When sue
cessu they quarrel their booty and betray each
other so often justify the saying, There is no
honor among thieves. smart thief seldom drinks and
allows himself to get under the influence OF liquor
keep himself in the best physical trim
He is always ready for long when pursued or for
determined struggle when cornered. He must always
have his wits about him. thief of this class makes
successful bank robber forger confidence swindrr
Professional thieves" Mr.. walIing continued, "se
dom have any home. Many OF them find temporary
shelter in duh In houses Of irepute. They as
sociae with, and often married to, disreputable
women, many OF whom are also thieves. The smartest
thieves do not have homes for the that they dare
not remain long place for fear OF arrest Large
robberes much less frequent in this city than they
few years ago, not because there is less to STEAL
but because robbery is attended with greater peril
Many hotel thieves burglars and safe operators pre-
fer work In adjoining cities and towns returning here
with their plumber. During the past year a large
part Of the detective work has been In making arrests for
thefts committed outside OF the city. No sooner large
robbery committed In any part OF the country than the
NewYor police Informed Of It, in the hope that the
thieves will return here and be caught During the sum-
NewYork thieves be found at all of the water
ing places and seaside resorts. The Summer hotels,
with bedroom windows opening on long verandas, are
well designed the operations of hotel thieves, who
become acquainted with the habits Of the occupants,
watch their OPPORTUNITIES and enter chambers when
they are left vacant at dinner hours. Many ladies
take with them such hotels costly Jewelry and
dresses which they wear at evening parties and
leave in their rooms at meal times. Thieves who fire.
quen such hotels usually well dressed ne looking
persons who are seldom suspected by strangers Conf
swinders and pckpOekets reap harvest In the
crowds at seaside resorts during the Summer months
Later in the season they attend country fairs and aRr
cultural shows and back TO the city at the begin
ming Of Winter They fond Of political meetings in
Jersey City and other places NewYork, but they
do not appear often meetings in this city, M0re than
bushel OF watches stolen by Gew-York thieves at
single political meeting I'm Jersey City last Fan"
In reply to the inquiry whether there were in this city
any places where thieves educated Superintendent
Walling said: NO. 1t would be impossible for such
places to without being di covered Thieves edu-
cate Themselves get their knowledge by assoca;ing
with other thieves experienced than themselves
Those people who believe in the existence OF schools
where boys are taught the art OF picking
pockets, have got their belief from works OF
hction IKE Dckcns's Oliver Twist Tue buekct.shops
and brohes OF city, whore thieves congregate are
the only places which can BIO called schools Tor CRIME IL
Il also mistake 30 suppose that thieves have any o.
gauzatiOns for mutual aid and protection Thieves 90
not trust each other enough To allow such organizations
10 exist IL sometimes happens t9at thieves VINO are on
Of
assistance a de n trouble, but there Is lttle
sympathy selfdenal in common among DfoiesSiolai
Police officers aud detectives who make study OF
thieves aud their modes o. wo dng say that te NOS
te receiver Of stolen goods This person. who Is known
among the thieying fraternity as NC fence rs usuay
the Keeper OF pawD-shOp or junk store In part
OF the city Inhabited by the poorer classes HIS acqnan
lance among professional thieves ls eNeilsiSe. Wien
one thief wishes to communicate with another whose
place 81 abode Is not known 20 him, he cues az once TO
the fence" get the desired address or 10 leave
message. All plumber obtained by thieves, such as jew
elry. watches gold and slycrware costly house IfnS
have no use aud which they keep In their posses
sion without great danger Is brought To the receiver 70
he disposed Of The disposal stolen property is often
attended with much risk the procuring OF H. and
the "fence" always demands "a full STARE OF the
profits for his part OF the work The crafty receiver
Knows very wen that the tbipves place themselves IN
his power when they come 20 hlm 10 dispose OF thelr
punder aud he does hesitate 60 drive hard bargains
with the less desperate Of his customers thief iIg
qnently gets no nore than emo go 20 pay his weeks
burglary Is planned by thieves, receiver ~ az
WAYS consulted, for without some means OF
no pront could be gained by the undertaking IL Is
usual for the receiver to provide WAGON Watcn lne
building where the burglars are known 10 be az work.
and at prcaTanged signal, TO dive TO the place ana
carry of the booty. II clothing house or tur st9ta ma
been rubbed the articles are at once spneuo i th.I
wrappne5 ana altered IN appearance ;" tha e oN hes
would have great difficulty In ileutifymg ther propFIy'
Many OF the receivers Keep IN their houses inelthsl
Races into bars OF metal those articles OF god
aud silver which are dllont u sell without ueecGn'
The most adrOt thieves have special lines OF work
professional pckpoekct VIII seldom attempt burglary
when plan 90 rob bank has been formed thieves OF
than one class are employed IN thc work Ohe uih
prepars the way by opening an account Win e Dahk
and drawing oat his deposits in small amounts; lie
tho habits Of the bank officers and clerks lie makes
careful observations OF Lle building ana OF Tue ss AZ
which money Is kept frequently room III VIC Das.
ment ia an adjoining building Is mred ana
man who plans the robbery seeks the assistance oi
skilled workman who IL able 10 cut through moor OF
exne,t sS opener are also secured Saturday night
usually chosen for the attack one after another the
men employed for the work into the oon edcrates
unobseryed and are seereed After every one ms
left the bauk for the night the WORK OF iopDety ,s
the thieves have divided the plumber anu sepaIaIsu
Occasionally The work cannot be completed III the night
aud bold thieves carry oh their booty IN broad DAY
light, unObserYed ny the crowds on Tue street ools
months ago the Sixth National Bank at broadway ana
Thrty-thr-st was entered and robbed OF several
thousand dollars In SILVER coin on Dight ounuAy' WHO
hundreds Of people were passing thg pace; ana,
they easily conceal about thei PERSONS are ensed
by the police pick pockets sneakthioYes shopiters
ana confluence bNluueIh Inc Plth-pNNhVb wins ~
crowded. street cars AT entrances OF theatres, public
nails and churches-in any place where people eongre
gate I'M numbers snicicnt Tor his purpose. Tho sneak
Thief enters dwelling houses various pretcnces ana
steals any article that he seize ana carry on uhoO
served aYoIre practice OF sneak thieves Is 10 call NJ
houses advertised TO rent and AJAX 10 DO sh wn rooms
Another plan Is to visit The offices OF physicians ana
other professional mep and 10 steal articles OF value III
the waiting rooms while they are lett alone The ma,
ioliy OF shopfters arc women, VINO VISIT STORES aho
steal from the counters while tho CLERKS gre
blsY engaged IN pling up assoTtments OF goods Tor
their inspection The practice Of shophng has become
IN
r. M stores, special detectives are employed 70 wnte
customers Confidence make use OF the creduy OF
country people and In the city, AfaNorite pias
10 the hotels and get the names aid aG4sses Oh
cuests. a quiet country place,
REGISTERS his name at Broadway hotel eats MS Gunner
audi goes out Tor a stroll. confidence man who mas
been on The watch for his appearance, meets MN some
hnnns frnm hotel nnd pushes up 70 AhAke ms