New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-09


no ambition higher than doing he cash drawer
Of a little store or shop and never leaves the
narrow sphere where he lives and works. He
knows all the peculiarties Of the East Side
shops, how to enter and how to leave them. but
even if he should make rich strike he could
not advance in the profession. because he has
neither polish nor adaptability. and must re-
main low-bred thief. He is not even TAX n
as a helper by men who stand higher in the
profession, and would not know what to do with
big haul il ne got it.
There are high-class till-tappers also. but
they go into the shoplifting branch and make
jewelry stores their field Of operation. There
are men and women whose hands quicker
than the shopkeeper's eyes. The women are
cieverest. because they combine with their deX-
terity their powers Of fascination. The penny
weight work. by which the job Of substituting
q bogus or foney ring for a good is ac-
Complished. is usually woman's specially.
ring tray is put on the counter the clerk re-
leases the fastening bar with a slight pressure
OF the finger. and a valuable ring is selected
for examination Then the woman makes eyes
at the clerk. and when she has gone he dis
covers fOney' ring has been rung in on him
Women who work in this line could not pick a
pocket would not if they could. and they never
think of stealing from ordinary shop counters.
THE HOTEL THIEF A SPECIALIST.
The hotel thief is a specialist who clinss
strictly TO his line Of work. He belongs to the
sneak thief class but operates only in hotels. Of
which ne usually has intimate knowledge
He takes a room. from which he makes trips
into other parts NJ the building. taking note Of
the doors which are open Of rooms which are
.,ffb ~
day and other points. He usually has falsa
keys and other paraphernalia and al the righ'
time uses them to get at the property which he
has planned 10 coniscate. In most Instances
he is disguised as a gentleman. and is quiet IN
his manners and in general appearance de-
srable guest
But there are exceptions. as shown in the
case Of Me Moran. who could not write his
name and always brought some one who regis
tered name for him. He gained notori"y
some years ago by taking large sum OF money
out Of a room in a Saratoga hotel This class
Of thieves IS always busy. but the real busy
season is during the times when there are great
crowds at the hotels because Of Holidays PUBIC
festivities Or great shows
There are divisions and subdivisions in the
class Of criminals who devote themselves 10 the
burglary branch. and in the days when New
York was a more profitable field than il IS no"
there were second story men. safe crackers
housebreakers bank experts and numerous
other experts who all worked IN their CHOSEN
calling with various degrees Of proht Inc
burglar must have in addition 10 his thief dis
p0sition a knowledge Of mechanics. and the sale
burglar must be d mechanic. Tools and their
usp, must De well known t. him. and while
many crooks Of that class have had experience
IT, machine shops and factories. there are also
many who have never done honest work "itA
mechanics tools.
THE SAFE MEMS" CAREFUL WORK
THE safe men work in gangs of two OF three
and their plans are carefully and sys ematlraHy
laid They are usually careful fellows. and IN
many Instances the safes are cracked ara lhe
hCodla is taken in their minds weeks before the
actual act is committed. They know how they
,,;,l mako an entrance to The store and they 81
through all the motions except going in They
l,roy, how long it will take to open the safe-or
70 heat it, as they say-and while they aHo"
themselves time for all this the outpost Is u'"7
his lob Of rubbering' and being prepared TO give
the signal if anything should turn up HE
,,artor,ime is performed several times ID som
instances before the actual job is undertaken.
The bank burglar has to use all these Pr'oau
,,ors and many more. and his preparatory ar
~a,-ar,4nts require more time, and ot;en make
necessary the expenditure of large sums OF
,,.o,,,, For this reason the bank man considers
himself on higher l-veI than his companions ~
t,,a e,ora business. and he is Looked upon 10y the
49, ,,,iaves with awe and admiration Bu'
.be bank burglar has ceased TO exist as sleh IL
,ho ,,rc. ~ities. The precautionary measures
are so perfect that he has been driven our OF
business Those who are not doing time are
looked upon as has 0eens' by the oF,m-" d,
,yorId They are untitled FOR other branches OF
past the aTt