Wichita eagle., 1888-10-06
EXPERT CRACKSMEN.
HOW PROFESSIONAL CROOKS PLY
THEIR NEFAR.OUS VOCATION.


Safe Breakers Who Outwit the Genils of
Skilled Mechanics-Peculiar Methods of
Bur:lars-A Dangerous Tool-Wat< hing
for the Watchman.
To adopt the well known thief takers ex-
preston, 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 depicted by
Dickens fertile pen They are intc lgent
and not infrequently ingenious mechanics
who would command the highest wages in
honest pursuits, and those members OF a
gang whose part OF a Job" it IS to recon-
noiter the ground have the bearing, appear
ance and manners of well-to-do business men
whose presence around banks and great mer
camille establishments would not excite the
least suspicion. the practical safe breaker
studies the latest mechanical inventions in his
line with as much intelligence and application
as the safe builder, and experience teaches
that the craftsman frequently outwits the
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 certain peculi-
arities of noted cracksmen by means of
which experienced detectives are enabled to
say with almost absolute certainty who per-
petrated the crime. There are burglars who
would never enter the house by any other
way than the scuttle III the roof, choosing an
adjacent vacant or partly occupied building
as starting point; others will sneak into a
house and keep themselves concealed until
the time for their work has arrived; still
others prefer entrance by the basement or
some rear window not sufficiently secured
with grating Doors which are merely bolted
from the inside offer not the slightest obstacle
TO the professional burglar. A simple and
noiseless trial will ae once show him the
location of the bolt With a fine bit he
bores hole not more than an eighth or
sixth OF an inch near the bolt, pushes through
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 tho bolt.
A quick pull is sufficient to move the bolt in
the slot. This operation is for fine work in
hotels or fashionable 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 profession, and uses force
only when it is absolutely necessary. Com
binations of safes have often been learned
by this class of crooks through obtaining ac-
cess to the premises after business hours,
removing the dial of the combinations. 1T
ting q sheet of tinfoil over the latter, and re-
placing tho dial. The legitimate opening or
closing of the safe makes the impressions Of
letters or numbers on the soft foil sought TO
be obtained by the burglar At second
visit the dial IS readily removed, and for the
expert one glance at the foil is sufficient TO
apply the combination, which opefs the safe
without force. Disordering the combination
after the robbery, so that the safe cannot be
opened again for hours, is favorite method
Of the burglar to gain time for escape If
force is required the mechanical burglar has
quite formidable array Of tools-his 'rE;t.n
as he calls It. The complete kit contains an
air pump. putty, powder or dynamite, fuse.
sectional Jimmy. steel drills diamond drills,
copper and steel faced sledges, lamp and
blow pipe, jackscrew, wedges, syringe, brace
with box slide, feed screw drill, steel punches.
small bellows, skeleton keys. nippers. dark
lantern, twino, and screw eyes
The most dangerous of this outfit "a the
second power in mechanics-the screw The
method used In breaking open the safe in
Henry ". King & Co.'S establishment, for
instance, is q practical illustration OF the
power Of the screw In this case the burg
lars first rigged a brace against the vanlt
door. Then they drilled hole through tho
door near the dial, cut thread into the hola,
and inserted what is termed female screw.
Inf fha 1,&Sa L.
provided with handle large and strong
enough for two men TO work e. the turning.
The Jackscrew went in until il struck the COM
bination- Then the tremendous forcs Of ths
formidable burglars tool cans into play.
The entire combination was broken CT. N
some cases the force Is not directed against
the combination, but against tae back plates
Of the safe door, usually the xeAke1. part Of
the entire structure Something Eust "gsvsr
when the screw comes into play. aid either
the back or the from. plate b forced oct q
Its position sufficiently 70 ADMIT the sectional
Jimmy, which, togsther with the veds., o-
wildly" finishes the work Of bodily tearing
nsunder tie most improved burglar proof"
safe.
To ascertain vhether there e vutrhrr,n
on the premises 70 be visited ths r<ossxsso-sl
U0I ES4l n4s seE s4ll E@G Ulb s&lfSl4 Ss Er,t1~
gem he forces piece OF thinIy shaved
wnaIebooe bet~eeu the doors Of eli exits aa1
The outer caxings Of the doorz kths whaIs- I
bore l. sill IN its risoe in the morning a. tie
usual hour Of opening for business tie door /
has nos been opened BY any che "A watch /
man IN leaving toe pretrlsss IL t5c morning 1
vould naturally CAUSE tbe vhAieho1e 70 .
rfgsng to ses ground The nss of twirss 70 i
tie burglar & trss as important as tie tele- /
graph Is 20 sse pubisc. One 81 tie frSs s.<ys /
tzksn By tie bzrgisr after s..sc.4rg al en- /
trance IS 70 fassen oce s1d of tw1re % scyae-
thing lear the safe. ard run tbs oxser en-. 4
cut 70 tbs ou:xsds r.an, VITO watches, TO gsrs /
tcc szgnal II IL Is safe 20 kgp ca working. 70
keep quie< tor tlrce, or 20 coCss oze - cnoa
TIE outsider s>zt.erS beans or sz<s6 along Ito i
Sidewalk Tor snene dastAncs Dear tao plAos os .
cfGrssso1 30 tia, 10 person spf~osesiag csa /
walk without being hsars1 1-ChiezSo Tisxz.
Sone p6crss oc!y uodarxsaxd enozxh cf q