Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-07-05
BURGLARS KITS.
Impr, we'd Fine Tools Which no House
breaker Should be without.
nL..nnn HALL

ImprI we'd Fine Tools Which no House.
breaker Should be Without.
Chicago Herald.
The finest tools still come from England
Sheffield, Birmingham, aud Wolverhamp-
ton being noted in this line. Simpler ap-
p~liances, such as skeleton Keys, are made
by the burglar himself, but the..heavier tools
require exquisite workmanship and first
class material.
The ordinary kit means a small dark
lantern, silent matches, wax tapers, a slung
shot, falsely called a life preserver, because
more lives are taken with it than preserved,
cutting away Of wood in door
panels, o thin and plant palette knife for
the u%nclasping Of window catches, q jimmy,
skeleton keys, ends of wires to lit lock
tumblers, brace and bits, and nippers for
the turning Of keys that have been left in
the locks.
This outfit is only for the ordinary work.
The ingenuity with which the professional
burglar meets almost any contrivance pro-
vided by invention for the safety Of valua-
bles furnishes him with novel tools.
First Of all there is the improved jimmy.
The largest size, up TO FIVE feet, and pro-
yided with fulcrum and lever, is only used
on great occasions, such as the forcing OF q
this formidable appliance the Lord Mayor"
From this size down to the pocket jimmy all
dime nsions are encountered. The larger
sizes are usually Of the extension pattern
hat is, they are divided into two or three
lengths, which are screwed together when
required for use. Some are solid and some
of tubular STEEL, the latter reqniriug the
finest workmanship.
The bruce and bit is the completest tool
in the burglars outfit. Made of the finest
steel, the bit penetrates the heaviest safe
door If necessary, but usually the holes are
drilled only deep enough around the combi-
nation to receive II e charges Of giant pow.
der or nitro.glycerine, by means of which
the combination is blown to atoms. After
that the jimmy finishes the breaking open Of
the doors. The explosive is nicely distribu-
ted through the mechanism Of the combina-
ton by means Of q small funnel made from
tin, through which the operator blows.
II explosion is too dangerous on &C
count Of the noise, the combination knob
is knocked off by q few blows Of a mallet
upon a fine cold cbisel. A hole is bored by
means of bit and brace, and through the
hole the combination which holds the bolts
is driven back by means of a steel punch.
The outer door can then be opened by turn
ing the handle.
The penel cutter resembles an ordinary
carpenters auger, bat the bit is OF the ex.
tension bind, from two to four inches wide.
This makes q hole of from four TO eight
inches near the lock. The arm is put
through, and lock and bolt are then easily
manipulated.
The sippers is another very elegant tool,
used in eases where people believe them
selves sufficiently protected by leaving the
KEY in .be lock. Nippers, formed somewhat
like q ballet mosld, with sharpened proags
and a receptacle under the cutters. are used
by ~pickpockets 10 clip of diamonds or 9TH
er gems The cutter clip the jewel of close
to the pin, which remains in the shirt or
scarf, while the stone drops into the pocket
Of the nippers.
Window fasteners are u~nclasped and
spEing locks opened by the palette knife
which is formed somewhat like an apoths-
csry's s~paiula. Is is of plant steel 90 thin
that it is easily showed through The smallest
crack.
Besides theee tools. there il variety Of
saws, mostly made from watch springs, ends
of wire, chisels. hammers, and anger bits.
The out6t depends on the fact whether Q
crook Jumps 9 crib" l. e., enters througha
window; "breakss Glib" that is, forces the
door; CRATES . crib" or lets himself 10
through . cellar grating, or 'garrsts a..crib."
which means that be enters the buildiBg
through the scuttle in the root. The "scustle
worker is always provided with a rope
ladder Of manila hemp. the rungs being
of stout iron slaves. Strong steel hooks are
provided for fastening the top Of the ladder
| TO window sills or the caves Of the roof, and
sand bags are fastened below to keep the
ladder taut and at the same time hold it
| of from the wall. Veranda climbers keep
a knot.ed rope, with . steel hook, TO Hasten
the latter BY q dexterious throw to q window
frame, shutter, or other suitable hold. II
is By no means Q strange occurrence that
scuttle workers climb from roof to roofin
q row Of houses, thus grading the risk Of be.
ing seen or met BY tbs officer who patrol,
HIS beat below.