The herald., 1898-12-23
CROOKS STILL AT WORK
VARIOUS SCHEMES WORKED TO
GET INTO HOUSES
Look Out for Potato Peddlers and
Strangers Seeking Work-A New
Bunco Game Played

| Chief Of Police Glass says that many resi-
dents of this city are allowing themselves
to be imposed upon by the gang of crooks
who are operating here. The thieves are in
the habit of calling at various houses and
representing that they desire work of any
kind, from moving the front lawn to taking
up carpets and cleaning them. In many in
stances work is given these men, although
| the housewife knows absolutely nothing OF
the character of the man she employs. OF
course some of these applicants for work are
honest, but in most cases they are nothing
but thieves, who go to the house and secure
temporary work for the purpose of getting
the lay of the land for future reference, i'll
order to return and rob their former elm.
| ployer.
The potato peddlers are also in town and
the public is warned against this gentry
| Every winter crowd of crooks come from
Sacramento and various northern places.
| They have a small amount of capital and a
portion of this money they invest in an old,
broken down horse, wagon, harness and a
few dollars worth of potatoes. Thus pro-
vided, the men, who generally work in pairs,
go through the residence portion of the city
soliciting orders of potatoes. One of the
Il llIcA kOcS W Lut rear VI u house 10 ledI II IL
anybody is in. If the house is without ID
guardian the fellow sneaks inside and steals
| whateve may be within reach. In case.
though, there is some one in the house the
potato solicitor "sizes up" the place, in or
der to be able to know the best entrance
when he returns to commit robbery at some
other time. Chief Glass says that all of the
men who solicit for the sale of potatoes are
not criminals, nevertheless a large portion
Of the crowd are, and the people should be
very careful about admitting the fellows to
their houses.
The residence of Mrs. Caroline Mondon
at 1922 Santee street was entered by burg.
lars Tuesday night and robbed of small
amount of money and some jewelry. The
burglars secured entrance through win
dow.
The police have been instructed by Chief
| Glass to look out for pair of men who are
thought to have committed burglary at
Hueneme Wednesday night. The two men
entered jewelry store and stole a considera-
BILE quantity of goods.
A couple of burglars tried to force an en-
trance into the residence of Mrs Stilson at
Sl2 Kensington road early Thursday morn
ing. The mem awakened both Mrs. Stilson
and her son and the young man armed him
self to give the burglars warm reception
The men abandoned their efforts to enter
the house, for they evidently must have
heard the inmates stirring.
Burglars entered the residence Of VII
liam Kennedy at 1902 West Tenth stree.
Wednesday night and stole number OF
small articles.
Thieves entered the office Of the Denver
iron works at 925 North Main street on
Wednesday night and stole some tools.
There was set of harness stolen from
Davenport & Co. of 6l8 North Main street
Wednesday night.
Mrs Clark of Sixteenth and Main streets
reported that her residence was broken
into several nights ago and some articles
of small lvalue were taken.
E. A. Wolff of 1874 McGarvey street re-
ported to the police yesterday that he had
been made the victim Of a new confidence
game. A respectable appearing old man
called at his house and asked 10 look at
some of the rooms. The old man repre-
sented that he was expecting mis- daughter
to arrive on train, and was seeking accom-
modations for her. He liked the room shown
him and engaged it. The old man said
though that he was "shy" So and he would
like to borrow that amount unit! his daugh-
ter arrived. The money was given him and
that was the last seen of the old man or the
money 1t is thought that he is the same
individual who worked the load of coal
racket some months ago.