Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-12

noyp and vacant Houses.
Almost daily complaints arc heard OF
the injury done to vacant houses by
wanton boys The offenders Of whom
we now speak are not thieves: no. not
at present--they are simply bad and reck-
less youths. Tie deprcdations OF the
thieves are bad enough-thieves plumber
10 get the wherewithal to obtain money
but for proparty-owners to have to suffer
from thieves and rni.chievons boys too
Is to tax their forbearancc beyond en-
durancc.
In many cases the boys Of whom we
speak break windows with stones, tear
OF palIngs, unh,nge doors. and In other
ways rob and deface unoccupied houses.
This il their way of Having fun" Quite
often their deprcdations are committed
In the sight OF neighbors and. as a rule,
these neighbory do not interfere. Some
times they warn the boys on. but rare
ly, indeed. will they report the boys 10
the police. They are unwilling to De-
come witnesses against friends children
for they may have boys Of their own
who are committing similar depredations
elsewhere. Then, too. the saying that
boys will be boys has found a WIDE
spread acceptance here In Richmond,
and is responsible for vast amount or
mischief that has been done and Is being
done
We have been told OF cases where
houses have been ruthlessly despoiled
and defaced under the very eyes OF
neighbors; but when these neighbors were
approached by police officers who wished
10 cause the arrest of the offenders no
information could be gotten from them.
And so 1t goes. Every year the injury
done to vacant houses In Richmond
lars. and yet the convictions are few.
1t would seem that 1t would be to the
interest Of owners Of unoccupied houses.
dwellings especially. to tax themselves
a little to employ detectives or watch
men, who would be perpetually on the
alert for all classes Of depredators.
and who would secure the evidence neces-
sary for their conviction. 1t is out Of
the question TO expect that our police
force should be able to watch hundreds
OF vacant houses. Oftentimes boys enter
these vacant premises from adjoining
lots or back alleys and are thus safe
from the observation Of the police Of
ficer who walks his beat, which includes
scores Of squares. But. II special or
ganization were effected by property
owners the depredations Of the boys at
least, would soon be brought to an end.
After a few offenders had been brought
before the courts and severely punished
the other boys Of the neighborhood would
take warning. Yes; and their parents
would take warning. too. and would look
after their boys better. and would thus
become alters OF the officers OF the
law. Even where nothing is stolen from
vacant premises any intruder is liable
to prosecution for trespass.
We know OF no way to put stop TO
these depredations other than that here
suggested. Thieves and trespassers both
would take warning, and would cease
depredating If they thought that the
eyes OF watchmen were always upon
them.
The Dispatch is constantly In receipt OF
complaints from owners Of unoccupied
property that thieves and boys are in
ficting great losses upon them. Most
of these complainants seem to think that
1t Is hard that our Chief of Police does
not detail men to watch the houses i'll
question. Well, as we all know, there
never trfv
disposition than our chief, and where
possible he has been in the habit of
having special watch kept over vacant
houses; but the undertaking is too great
for him with his present force of men.
Concerted action and organization on
the part OF our property-owners and real
estate men would. we feel sure, be warm
ly aided and supported by our Chief
Of Police. Thus a vigorous campaign
might be inaugurated. which would quick
ly break up the practice now so preva-
lent.
Meanwhile. let us all ask ourselves IL
1t can be possible that our boys-"our
own boys"-ever commit the offences of
which we are writing. Let us consider,
too. II those who own vacant houses
ever bother themselves reporting depre-
dations upon other peoples houses. In
other words. do We act by our neighbors
as we would have our neighbors act by
us?
But, after all, beyond all, we put most
faith in the efficacy of the deterrent
involved In the certainty Of arrest, and
We believe that after few arrests had
been made we should hear very little
more about such depredations as are
now daily complained OF.