The evening times., 1899-09-26
DETECTIVES GOOD WORK
Nearly $1,000 Worth Of Stolen
Goods Recovered in a Week.
The List Represents Hard Work ON
Many Petty Thefts in Washington.
No Case of PiIfering Neglect
ed by the Police Authorities.

During the week ending last Saturday
recovered stolen property amounting in the
aggregate to $1,181.76. In the list of ar
ticles recovered during the week is almost
every conceivable thing which thief could
appropriate, and the aggregate represents
more than 100tthefts. The eleven hundred
dollars represents AN immense amount of
work for the detective force. and speaks
well for its efficiency. The cases of petty
theft are not the only work the detectives
have done by anyemeans, and form what
might be called side issue with them.
Major Sylvester, in speaking of last
weeks record of the detective force, stated
that on an average the men recover stolen
property to the amount of about $4,000 a
month. This is probably reliable aver
age. Sometimes the amount missing is
considerably more, and as a result the
work CT the detectives is considerably in
creased. Theft, as well as other crimes,
seems to increase without any special rea-
son at certain periods. Last week nine BIZ
cycles and six watches which had been
stolen were recovered. Hundreds Of bicy-
cles are stolen every year, and not day
passes that one or more thefts of wheels
are not reported at headquarters.
Major Sylvester is authority for the
statement that there are more petty thefts
committed in Washington than any in any
other city of it's size. The detective force
makes a specially OF investigating every
case no matter how trivial the value of
the property stolen may be. The theft of
a pair of shoes is given the same atten-
tion that robbery involving $100 or more
, would receive. In no other city in the
country is the same attention devoted to
small matters.
The police regulations OF other cities as
sign much of the work which falls upon
the Headquarters force here to the pre-
cinct detectives. In many cities little or
no effort is made to recover property OF
small value. Major Sylvester believes that
the property of citizens should be protect
ed by the use of every possible means and
the attention given by the Detective Bu-
reau to small matters no doubt acts as a
| great check to further depredations of a
! small character. Because OF this policy,
| Major Sylvester has caused the force OF
| detectives stationed at headquarters to be
greatly augmented. This enables the men
assigned to the important cases more time
for thoroughly investigating matters called
| to their attention.
The long experience of the detective force
in Washington in dealing with petty cases
OF theft has made them especially expert
in bringing the offenders to justice. After
a few months work at headquarters, a new
man gains the ability to track petty thief
in very short time, although there are
many instances where the person wanted
has used more than ordinary precaution
and manages for a while at least, TO elude
| the authorities.
There is a great deal of bicycle stealing
in Washington although there are but few
| professional thieves who devote themselves
| TO purloining wheels The practice is usu-
ally 10 steal a bicycle and disguise it by
removing certain parts and supplying the
deficiency with parts from other wheels
Everything possible Is done to destroy the
identity of wheel but. not
withstanding this. the detectives
are able to recover from SO
to 80 per cent of all bicycles reported as
missing. With the present efficient detec-
tive force. Washington is place in which
theft OF other crimes cannot be committed
with impunity.