The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-24
EXPERT CRACKSMEN.
HOW PROFESSIONAL CROOKS PLY
THEIR NEfARlOUS VOCATION.
safe Breakers Who Outwit the Genius OF
skilled Mechanics-PecuIiar Methods Of
Bur.lars-A Dangerous Tool-watching
for tho Waterman.

for tho Waterman.
To adopt the we'll known thief takers ex-
preston, the professional" crook is far from
,e.ng the tough and rowdy usually pictured
" the ngiiated fancy Of the alarmed citizen
fhc most successful burglars are not Of the
sykes class, Sc graphically deposited by
Dickens fertile pen. They are int ligent
,ul not infrequently ingenious mechanics
sho would command the highest wages in
ionest pursuits, and those members OF n
.ang whose part Of Job it is 70 recon
ioiter the ground have the bearing, appear
lrcc ard manners Of well-to-do business men
whose presence around banks and great mer-
;antilc establisbYspts woQl got sxflf {ee
east suspicion. The practical safe breaker
tudies the latest mechanical inventions in his
ire with ns much intelligence and opplieatisi
Is the safe builder, and experience teaches
hat the craftsman frequently outwits the
inventive genius orthe legitimate MECHANIC.
While the work Of the burglar must OF
curse be adapted to the circumstances OF
sach part cular job, there are certain peculi-
1rities Of noted cracksmen 10y means OF
which experienced detectives are enabled 10
ay with almost absolute certainty who per
oetratcd the crime. There are burglars who
would never enter the house by any other
way than the scuttle in the roof, choosing an
adjacent vacant or partly occupied building
IS n starting point; others will sneak into
house and keep themselves concealed until
The time for their work hni arrived; still
,thers prefer entrance by the baser<Fnt or
some rear window not sufficiently secured
with grating. Doors which are merely bOitcd
from the inside offer not the slightest obstacle
70 tho professional burglar A simple and
noseless trial will L. once show him the
location Of the bolt. With q fine bit be
bores hole not more than an eighth or a
sixth Of all inch near the bolt, pushes through
loop Of thin but strong silk or fishing line
and by means Of n pliable steel tap, usually
watch spring material, he knows how 10
fasten the loop around the knob OF the bolt
\ quick pull is sufficient to move the bolt il
the slot. This operation is for fine work in
hotels or fashionable rcaidences
The safe breaker does not associate with
those who "crack" store for the purpose Of
stealing bulky goods. He represents the
aristocracy Of tic profession, AMI uses force
only when it is absolutely necessary. Com
onations of safes have often been learned
by this class Of crooks through obtaining ac-
cess to tho premises after business hours,
removing the dial Of tho combinations, fit
ting sheet Of tinfoil over the latter and re-
placing the dial The legitimate opening or
closing Of the safe makes the Impressions Of
letters or numbers on the soft foil sought 10
be obtained by the burglar At q second
visit the dial is readily removed, and for the
expert one glance az tho foil is efficient 10
apply the combination, which opens the safe
without force. Disordering the combination
utter the robbery, SO that the safe cannot be
opened again for hours, is a favorite method
Of the burglar 10 gain time for escape II
force j. required the mechanical burglar has
quite formidable array Of toois-his kit, +"
rs tie calls it. The complete lit contains an
air pump, putty, powder or dynamite, fuse
sectional jimmy, steel drills, diamond drills
copper aud steel faced sledges, lamp ard
blow pipe, iackserew, wedges, syringe, brace
with box slide, feed screw drill, steel punches.
small bellows, skeleton keys, nippers, dark
lantern, Irvine, and screw ewes.
The most dangerous OF this outfit is the
second power in mcclanics-tho screw. The
method used in breaking open the safe in
Henry W King & Co.'S establishment. for
instance, is a practical illustration Of the
power of the screw. In this case the burg
lars first rugged a brace against tie vault
door Then they drilled a hole through the
door near the dial, cut q thread into the hole.
and inserted what is terrccd female screw.
Into the latter they fitted the jacl.screws
provided with a handle largo aud strong
enough for two men 10 work az the turning.
Tue lackscrew went in until il struck the COM
binatiOn. Then the tremendous force Of the
formidable burglars tool came into play
The entire combination was broken OF. In
some cases the force is rot directed against
the combination, but against the back plates
Of the safe door, usually tho weakest part Of
the entire structure. Something must give
when the screw comes into play, aud either
the back or the front plato is forced out Of
It's position sufficiently 70 admit the sectional
jimmy, which. together with tho wedge. or
'widdy." finishes the work Of bodily tearing
asunder the most improved burglar proof
safe
To ascertain whether there IS q Waterman
~ the premises to lie visited the professional
burglar has very simple but effective strata
gem. He forces q piece Of thinly shaved
whalebonc between the doors Of all exits and
the outer castings Of the doors. Ii the whale
bone is still IN its place in the morning at the
usual hour Of opening for business tho door
has not been opened by any one a watch.
man in leaving the premises IN tho morning
would naturally cause the whalebOue 10
spring to the ground Tho use Of twinc to
tie burglar is just IS important as the tele-
graph is to the public One Of the first steps
taken by the burglar after effectirg an en-
trance is 70 faston ono end Of twino 70 some
thing near the cafe, and run the other end
out to the outside man, who watches, to give
the signal If it is safe to keep on working. 70
keep quiet FOR time, or to come out at once
The outsider s,atters beans or sand along the
sidewalk Tor some distance near the place If
operation so that no person approaching can
walk without being heard Chicago Times.
Takc a Superior ssjject.