The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-28
THE BURGLAR
"BURGLES" HIS
WAY SAFELY:
Robs Plain Citizens
With Impunity.
sLEUTHs HAVE. "No TIME"
DEVOTE THEIR EFFORTS TO
"sTAR CASES"
Thieves Successfully Raid a Build
ing in the Center of the City
Five Times in o
Month.
SLEUTHs HAVE mo TIME
DEVOTE THEIR EFFORTS TC
"sTAR CASES"

The monotonous activity OF the unas-
Stunning housebreaker and the marked
apathy of the Police Department with
reference to crimes is causing the ordin-
airy citizen who pays taxes and obeys
the law to wonder for what particular
purpose he is paying to provide Chief
Lees and his army Of men with salaries.
The condition that makes the situation
more unsatisfactory IS the fact that if
prominent member of a wealthy cor
poration-an officer of the Southern Pa
cifc Company. for instance-is despoiled
of his worldly goods the detective force
goes out en- masse, the property is re-
covered and the proud record of the
force duly swelled. In other words, in
cases where there are no opportunities
to make star plays for reputation the
powers that are located in the upper
office" are too busy to pay attention to
the just claims of the plain citizen.
The enterprising burglar, feeling as
sured that he has this practical immu-
nifty, loses no time or opportunity, and
plies his predatory aVocation right under
the noses of the police and in the heart
of the city.
The record of one notorious case will
illustrate the manner in which the COM
mon citizen is. protected under the ad-
ministration of Grandpa Lees
AT the northwest corner of Jones and
Cieary streets is a row of new flats, which
has proved a rich field of operations for
burglars. They began operations as soon
as the building was occupied and well
equipped for their work. They first broke
into the storeroom at 6O7 Geary, cut open
two large trunks packed full of fine
clothing and bedding, which they got
away with. A few days later another raid
load of valuable property was carried
away. This was done on bright night
In a central part of the city and on a
beat which is supposed to be properly
covered However
no wise disturbed.
After this bold act an urgent request
was filed at police headquarters that a
detective be detailed to watch the place
and capture the culprits.
No attention whatever was paid to the
case and the burglars were thereby af-
forded full opportunity to dispose Of their
spoils 1t is evident that they knew how
their depredations We're regarded at head
quarters. for they took a chance at the
Seary-street side of the building and
also again on the Jones-street section.
After this eXasperaung impudence a
robust protest was filed in Chief Lees
that the complaint Of the second rob-
berry had been recorded and that moth
ing had been done regarding ii. The ex-
busy"
Finally one the sleuths who shines in
big cases called, but had no time. to
AXE a description of the hundreds of dol
ars' worth OF property that had been
stolen. The conse8 uence was that no in
formation was obtained by which the
.orce might search for and recover the
goods.
This detective promised to return in a.
couple of days and see what could be done
With the case For some reason he did
aot keep his appointment nor did he send
substitute. The housebreakers may not
Rave known the fact that the Police De-
partment took no interest in their opera
ions, but just the same they carefully
made two more raids on the same prem
seS, while the policeman on the beat was
too busy to know anything about the af-
lair
When the second complaint was made
was explained that the thieves could be
ieught by detailing detective to watch
!or them, and had this precaution been
aiken they would have been easily cap
;ured on their latest visit to the place
Ihey are expert operators and If taken
YOU'D DOUBTLESS prove to be old hands
who have been long wanted
However, the sufferers were of no i'm
portance from the standpoint Of the upper
office and are now Of the opinion that
hey are fortunate that the favored appro-
prlators OF other peoples property did
aot secure sufficient truck facilities and
itenoVe their entire household effects
lhey feel confident that there would have
been no police interference with such an
enterprise s'iA
The contrast to the foregoing experi
ences OF the private citizen is shown in
ne fact that few days ago several hun
IRE. naS s qohars, worth of personal property
Mas stolen from the residence Of General
manager Kruttschnitt of the Southern
racine company. The result was that q
arge detail OF thfef-catchers was sent out
tIIlo the burglars were not only taken but
ne stoIen goods recovered at once.
ne natural conclusion to be drawn
obvious rs