Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-05-24
HOW SAFES ARE BROKEN.

StructiVe Points.
The Borton Herald gives an interesting
account by Pittsburgh authority in the
burglars art:
even score OF men whom no bank vault or
safe, however strong, can resist. To reas-
sure society, will say that more thun half
OF these arc safe behind prison bars. Safe
, breakers have moro than kept pace with
improvements in safes, including time locks,
chilled steel chests of eight or nine thick
nesses and electric protective attachments.
Their tools arc made by some Of the finest
mechanics and inventive gcriuscs of the
world. A full kit of the most approved
modern safe-worker's tools costs about
SIS, O00
The modern safe burglar is an excecdin g:
~ keen, intelligent man. He cln open
safe having all the modern improvements
In from ten minutes to two h8urs without
the aid OF explosives, and by only slightly
defaclng 1t. Sometimes he leaves scarcely
a mark.
A first class modern safe. whether large
or small, generally has doUb.c outside and
inside doors, with n steel chest III the bot
tom, forming really n safe within safe,
the inside one being the stronger. The
outside door is usually either "Stutfed" or
"Skcloton." The inside one is made of
eight or nine sheets, Of different temper, Of
the finest steel. These sheets arc bolted
together with conlcal bolts, having left
hand threads, after which the heads Of the
bolts are cut off, leaving what is virtually
q solid piece of steel, which no drill can
penetrate. The best locks are of the COM
blnation type, with time lock attachment
In both cities and towns safes containing
the most valuables have an electric alarm
atCacned. ANY tampCrinB with + will COM
municate the fact TO the owrcrs or the
safes guardian, which in cities is either an
electric protective bureau or n central DO
lice station. Weeks, and sometimes even
months, are spent in putting up Job Of
magnitude, and often number of smaller
jobs are done to carry out'on where the
proceeds may run up IN to the tens of thou
sands of dollars.
Keys are fitted to every door which stands
between the street and the bank vault by
means OF a thin sheet of brass, as near as
possible the same size as the kcyholc and
covered with thin coat of carbon, which
may be applied with match. A dozen en-
frances may have to be made to the bnnk
before it IS finally robbed. A key Is fitted
first to the outer door. This course is
continued until keys are had of every
door leading to the vault. Having the
Watchman and officials Of the bank down
fine, one of the last things to do is TO select
II favorable night.
Then the bank burglar proper appears.
He has usually three assistants. The gang
never appears until tho night of the rob-
berry, and then not till eleven or twelve
o'clock If there is Waterman, his habits
and disposition have been carefully noted.
and, having access to the bank by keys, it
is an easy matter to surprise and overpow-
or him. A ''crow'' is next planted outside.
or in an upper window, if there be one to
give notice, by means Of signals or a cord
reaching to the workers, of the approach Of
patrolmcn or chance passers. by. A regu-
lar code of signals IS used, telling when to
cease operations and seek cover and when
to resume work
When drilling Is necessary a light, com.
pact machine, which fits the combination
dial plate, and which rapidly drills small
holo above the water rim of the combination
dial plate, is used. A small steel breach is
then inserted and he combination knob
turned until the tumblers are brought into
position, thus permitting the ''dog' or bar
to drop. A turn of the handle shoots the
bolts back and the door swings open.
If the operators fin d on entering the vault
that the steel chest is an improved one, thew
then proceed to "strip'' it. Sheet after
sheet is taken Off until the works are ex-
posed. This is done by using u ''crow,"
which is sectional-that is, it may be ex-
To an ordinary observer the ''crow'' looks
like the bar which holds the "manhole'
plate Of steam boiler in place, and is
worked on precisely the same principle.
Should it be necessary to "wedge" safe
open, modified form of the old "drag'' is
used. 1t is light but rigid and strong
steel bar, sectional, US to suit different
sized safes, and for ease in transportation,
which clamps the outer side Of the safe.
Through the bar is run a screw-threaded
bolt, with ball JOINT at one end for a re.
ceiying wedge On the other end is worked
q railroad wrench, used by track hands for
tightening rails, and which can be procured
from any railrOad section-house. With
wedging and blocking, no door can resist
this instrument. Sometimes miniature
railroad "jack," such as engineers carry, is
substituted. A heavy cleat Is firmly fast
ened in proper position and placed on the
floor. The wedge in the crack, tho Jack"
in place, the result is but n question of time.