The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-09-24

Five Gents,
Crime Caused by Carelessness.

Crime Caused by Carelessness.
One has but to read the daily press to be
convinced of the fact that large number
of the burglaries. rObberies and other thetts,
are the direct result of carelessness. Look,
for example, at the large number of people
who periodically leave their homes unoccu-
pied while they are sojourning in summer
resorts or distant climeS. The number of
crimes that annually occur from this source
is remarkable. have before me three pa
pers-one published in New York. one in
California and the other in Minnesota
and they chronicle no less than sixty. eight
complaints from people whose residences
had been raided during the past summer.
And among the names OF the cOmplainantS
are found such titles as commissioner,
judge. alderman. attorney, etc. Men who
are recognized by such titles undoubtedly
know that every city in this country is in.
tested with class of criminals known as
daylight burglars" "hOuse breakers" etc.
They know. too, that these criminals are
always ON the alert for such opportunities.
And yet. knowing all this. they leave un.
protected valuables that are probably the
collection OF a life time. If they had sim.
ply discharged the servants, barricaded the
windows and started upon their journey,
their actions would possibly be less repre-.
henSible; but to let people know that they
are fashionable, in the swim. as it were,
they extend All invitation to house breakers
by advertising their departure. In all prob
ability not single one OF these crimes
would have occurred if they had placed a
guardian over their property. Such people
are entitled to no more sympathy for their
losses than if their homes were burned up
without being insured.
Again. look at the large number of
women that walk along crowded thorough
fares or frequent amusement halls, fairs
and other public places. with we'll filled
pocket books in their hands, if not exposed
in the pockets of their dresses or in their
mutfS. Is it any wonder that the whole
country is Overrun with pickpOckets? They
are the product of every city. and will con-
tinue to be as long as people so cOnspicu-
Ously display money and jewelry in public
places.
Then. again. the following is no uncom.
mon crime-especially at this season of the
year:
Thieves smashed the plate glass window of
Bundo & Upmeyers jewelry store at Milwaukee.
and got away with $3.50 in gold coin which was on
exhibition as prize.
Inspector Byrn6S OF New I Ork city com.
mented upon such crimes as the foregoing
in very decisive language short time ago.
Among other things he said:
think the jewellers and money dealers repre-.
hensible who display valuable stones and currency
in windows protected only by plate OF glass. It
is a horrible thing to be poor, sick and friendless
in city like this. The man who is suffering from
cold and privation. who perhaps is unable to get
work. and who is rendered desperate by his con.
ditiOn must be pited if he thrusts his through
the glass and makes off with the means Of warmth
and food.
1t is significant fact that he does not
say 1.-The thief who is suffering" etc., but
The man.. And it is safe to say that nine
times out of ten the perpetrators of such
crimes are not experienced thieves. For.
as rule the thieves of experience are very
conservative in their actions. 1t is indeed
the exception to hear of them running
around the country smashing jewelry shop
windows, holding up bank cashiers and the
like. They don't want to take such risks
they want something that looks like
''cinch"
No doubt there are other crimes on the
calendar that could be charged to peoples
carelessness. but those that 1 have illus
trated are the most common. And that I
may not appear too emphatic upon the mat
ter have endeavOred to. as ''Mr. Jukes''
puts it. lust be descriptive" and leave it
to the readers of this article to make their
own deductions. F. B. 81.