Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-03
THE SUMNER THIEF.
BE Is Now Enjoying His Harvest,
Which Is Not Prolific.
THE ALLEGHENY POLICE REPORTS
Show That the Festive Sneak Is Abandoning
the N0rtbSide.
CHIEF MURPHY APPLAUDs HIS MEN

Summer vacation time is the harvest
hour of the petty house breaker and second
story burglar, but he is not distinguishing
himself this year in Allegheny as is his
won't. Chief Murphy, in consequence, is
patting himself on the back and hailing his
men as good fellows.
The monthly report of the Allegheny
police department for July was finished
Yesterday, and in comparison with former
Julys, reflects much credit on the efficiency
OF Chief Murphy's men. In an interview
with DISPATCH man yesterday, the Chief
Of Allegheny's police department said he
was proud of his men.
''The month Of July and the first Is days
of August are trying times for policemen"
continued the Chief, "as it is at that period
the housebreaker arouses himself. Citizens
leave for the seashore and mountains and
lock up their houses until their return.
None of the household effects are removed,
and it is great opportunity for the second
story burglar, as the residences are desert
ed and the neighbors often some distance
away. But this season it is different" and
the Chief smiled broadly. I'VE have had
but two such reports, and one of those was
that of Southside boy of idiotic tendencies,
who simply broke into the house and car
ried away bunch of kiudling"
The Work They Do.
"What depredations are committed by
the average summer burglar?" was asked.
'They carry away valuable little knick-
nacks, bric-a-brac, books, curtains and
things of that sort that are small and can be
sold in old curiosity shops of uncertain
reputation. Then again there are boys who
enter an empty house with more or less
skill and armed with an ak or a hatchet
proceed to demolsh locked cupboards
secretaries, bookcases. and then break up
furniture; incidental to this sort of con-
temptible work they chop up the lead gas
pipes and work general havoc. This latter
class are by far the most expensive as the
damage is considerable. But taken all in
all the summer burglar is much more of q
pest than he is of dangerous criminal"
A well-known man, who mixes more or
less with criminal classes as a rebuker, de-
clares the good report of the last past month
a certain indication that thieves are becom-
ing more clever and are working with more
discretion than formerly. Thieves learn
as all other people learn" he remarked,
"and this learning stands them in good
stead in just such times as these. There
are many cases of burglary and lar
cenv that never reach the ears of the
police. Frequently with such occurrences
the victims of the crook think thev can
better capture the thief by individual efforts
than by calling on the police department
for assistance. Then again it is the strong
aversion to attracting newspaper attention
and publicity that makes them bear their
loss in silence, and In the majority of cases
the victim thinks the loss too small to report
to the police. In consequence of this some
really good opportunities for an officer or
detective to distinguish himself by credit
able work escapes all notice"
What the Reports Show.
The report for the month of July gives
the number of arrests at 321 persons. OF
these 101 were fined, 103 were discharged,
56 were sent to Jail, SO went to the work.
house, 16 were held to court, was sent to
the reform school and forfeited their de-
posits. Two hundred and twenty-one of
the arrests were of natives of the United
States and the other 100 were of foreign
birth. The total amount of money col
lected for fines, forfeits, etc, amounted to
81, 1,048 70.
In comparison to this the report for July,
1891, shows 44 arrests. OF these 1876 were
fined, 73 were sent to Jail, 131 were dis
charged, 46 were sent to the workhouse, 2to
the reform school, 1 to the House of the
Good Shepherd and forfeited their Sc
curity. Two hundred and eighty-seven
were of United States nativity and the
remaining 167 were from alien lands.