The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1889-02-26

en-hO HUT oua, II pOoSluIcs ClOcO W cdCn
other. The habits of the guests on
that floor are carefully studied, and it
is soon ascertained which of the rooms
are unoccupied. If there is only a
single lock to contend with the work
is soon done-the "bar' key" with its
appropriate bit, opens the door readily
from the outside, and no further ar
rangements are necessary. When there
is bolt on the inside hole is bored
through the door Immediately over
the handle or knob, for the introduce
ton of the sectional stem" and then
carefully putting UP until the time for
operation arrives. Five minutes is
frequently all the time an expert oc-
cupies in working" a single room. II
the guest has left the key in the lock
the nippers are used and the key is
turned so quickly and noiselessly that
no one would be aware of what is going
on. If, however. there is an inner or
double lock and bolt on the door the
putty from the drilled hole is quickly
removed. the nippers are inserted, and
in case the inside key has been pre-
pared by filing a sharp awl is used.
and fitting into the slot In the emu or
the kew. turns 1T readily. Then the
sectional STEM" the fiddle" or the
bent wire is inserted through the hole
over the bolt. and with an easy turn
of the wrist the bolt IS thrown back
and every obstacle TO the entrance OF
the thief is removed. the partner
keeping watch in the meanwhile.
A dangerous burglar is tic key
filter, because from the very nature of
his operations he is rarely ever dis
covered. He is not considered first
class man by the professional cracks
man because he is as much of a sneak
as he is burglar. Wholesale jewellers,
furriers and other firms who frequent
" have their places OF business in up
per stories OF houses are selected rs
victims. The key-fitter usually
operates in gangs of three. He will
approach an employe OF the firm to be
victimiZed carrying a tin box or a
valise and pretending TO have an office
in the same building. Politely he asks
if the person approached has a key to
fit the box or valise. he himself hav-
ing lost the opening sesame" In
nine cases out of ten bunch of keys
is produced, and while the key-fitter
pretends to try them his ''stalls"
or assistants come in and divert
the attention of the employe
or business man long enough
to permit the man who had the
box take as many impressions from
the keys on the bunch as are consid-
cred necessary for the subsequent rob-
berry. The impression is generally
taken on a substance made from fresh
beeswax, oil and lampblack. From
these impressions the expert key-fitter
readily makes the keys required. The
balance of the operation is easy.
"Veranda climbers" are closely re-
lated to the key-fitter as sneaks. They
usually operate at dusk when the oc-
cupants of the dwelling chosen are at
their evening meal. The climbers
''kit" contains small jimmy, couple
of 7 screws or skeleton keys. few
wooden wedges and palette knife. He
wears rubbers or wooden stockings
over his shoes, dresses in dark clothes
and frequently wears a false beard.
Two men work together-one does the
climbing and the other the watching.
While houses with porches or verandas
in the rear are preferred, a simple
coping over the door Is sufficient TO
give the climber or "cat" the neces-
sary hold, the assistant rendering help
by lift. II the climber encounters
q catch on second-story window he
pushes the palette-knife between the
two window frames and throws back
the fastening. II the catch is so con:
trived that the knife can not throw Il
back the jimmy is used underneath
the lower sash and pried upward.
which breaks the catch. The window
Is then easily lifted. Should the win
dow cord be broken a wood
wedge Is pressed In between
sash and frame to keep the
window open. All this can be done by
a skillful thief in few minutes. Be-
fore beginning his search for booty
the doors leading to the entry or hall
are bolted or locked. II there is
neither bolt nor lock the door is kept
closed by a wooden wedge. This is
done to prevent surprise by the occu-
pants of the place. The trying of the
doors by the occupants gives the
worker a chance to get out of the win
dow and away before the alarm can be
given.
Breaking store windows for the pur-
pose of robbery has been reduced to a
system of which few people are aware.
1T is bold piece of work and requires