Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-10-06
THE WAYS OF THIEVES.
Methods Adopted by Crooks in
Large Cities.
The Most Successful in the Profession Men
of Intelligence-Breaking n Safc-In-
genious Hotel Workers" key Fit
tiers" and "ycranda Climbers"

tiers" and "ycranda Climbers"
'Burglaries run in streaks," re
marked Lieutenant Elliott Of the city
detective department, complacently,
while he was speaking of the recent
numerous depredations Of tho crooked
fraternity, There are not many pro-
icssionals in Chicago who work sepa-
rately, and most OF the old-time pro-
fcssional cracksmon are doing time
What gives us the most trouble are the
gangs, and it takes time to locate
them"
TO adopt the well-known thief
takers expression, the professional
crook is far from being the tough and
rowdy usually pictured by the agitated
fancy Of the alarmed citizen. The
most successful burglars are not Of
the Sykes class, SO graphically de-
picted by Dickens fertile pen. They
are intelligent and not infrequently
ingenious mechanics who would COM
mand the highest wages in honest pur-
suits, and those members OF a gang
whose lob it is to r~econnoiter the
ground havo the bearing, appearance
and manners Of well-to-do business
men whose presence around banks and
great mercantile establishments would
sot excite the least suspicion. The
practical aafe-brcaker studies the
latest mechanical inventions in his
line with as much intelligence and
application az the safc-builder, and
experience teaches that the crarksman
frequently outwits tho inventive genius
OF the legitimate mechanic. While
the work of the burglar must of
course be adapted to the circumstances
OF each particular job, there are GER
tain peculiarities of noted cracksmen
by means OF which experienced de-
tectives are enabled to say with almost
absolute certainty who perpetratcd
the crime. There are BURGLARS who
would never enter q house by any
other way than the scuttlc in the roof.
choosing an adjacent vacant or partly
occupied building as a starting point:
Others will sneak into IA house and
keep themselves concealed until the
time for their work has arrived; still
Others prefer entrance by the base
ment or some rear window not suf-
felently secured with grating. Doors
which are merely bolted from the in
side offer not the slightest obstacle to
the professional burglar. A simple
and noiseless trial will at once show
nm the location OF the bolt. With a
line bit he bores a hole not more than
an eighth or a sixth Of an inch near
the bolt, pushes through a loop of thin
but strong silk or fishing line, and by
means Of a pliable steel tap, usually
watch-spring material, he knows how
TO fasten the loop around the knob Of
the bolt. A quick pull is sufficient to
move the bolt in the slot. This opera
ton is for fine work in hotels or FASH
ionablo residences.
The safe-breaker does not associate
with those who crack a store for the
purpose OF stealing bulky goods. He
represents the aristocracy of the pro-
j%ession, and uses force only when it is
absolutely necessary. Combinations
OF safes have often been learned by
this class OF crooks through obtaining
access to the premises after business
hours, removing the dial of the COM
blnatpns, fitting a sheet of tin-foil
over the latter and replacing the dial.
The legitimate opening or clos
ing of the safe makes the
impressions Of letters or numbers
on the soft foil sought to he OBJ
tanned by the burglar. At a second
visit the dial is readily removed, and
Tor the expert one glance at the foil is
sufficient to apply the combination,
which opens the safe without force.
D%isordering the combination after the
robbery, Sc that the safe can not be
opened again for hours, is a ~fayorite
method OF the burglar to gain time for
escape. If force is required, the me-
chanical burglar has quite a formida-
bic array OF toolo-his kit as he
calls it. The complete kit contains an
air-pump, putty, powder or dynamite.
fuse sectional jimmy, steel drills, dia-
mond drills, copper and steel-faced
sledges, lamp and blow pipe. lack
screw, wedges, syringe, brace with
box slide, feed screw drill, steel punch
s. small bellows, skeleton keys, nip
,ers, dark lantern, Irvine and screw
eyes. The most dangerous of this out
1t is the second power in mechanics
he screw. The method used in break
ng open the safe in Henry w. King e.
Cot establishment, for instance, is a
practical illustration of the power Of
the screw.
In this case the burglars first rugged
a brace against the vault door. Then
they drilled a hole through the door
near tho dial, cut "a thread into the
hole, and inserted what is termed a fe-
male screw. Into the latter they fitted
the Jack-screws. provided with a ham
die large and strong enough for two
men to work at the turning. The
laek-serew went in until IT struck the
combination. Then the tremendous
force of the formidable burglars tool
came into play. The entire combine
ton war broken on. In some cases
she force is not directed against
the combination. but against the
back plates Of the safe door.
usually the weakest part OF the entire
structures Something must give"
she The screw comes into play, and