Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-18
The Burglar and the Profess
sional Thief Shun This City.
ARE SOON CAPTURED
POLICE AND DETECTIVES CON
STANTLY ON THE WATCH.
Few Of That Class of Crimes Commit.
ted Here, Even When There Are
Large Crowds Present.

Talking about burglars and the crimes
they commit said well-informed head
quarters detective to Star man this morn
ing, brings up the question of the work
of this class of criminals in Washington.
and the results we have attained in the sup
preston of the offense and the punishment
of the offenders.
Il do not believe that the property own
ers and householders of the capital fully
appreciate the immunity they enjoy from
this detestable crime as compared with
other cities, and, VIII lie we do not seek
praise in the performance of our duty, it
is nevertheless a matter Of congrat,Ilation
all around to be able to say that not more
than half dozen burglaries were pulled Off
| in this city last fall and winter, the busy
season of the burglar, where the booty
amounted to $1,000 and over.
why is this? Why is Washington not
a good field for the burglar when there is
so much wealth here? Why don't the
craftsman descend upon US and do us I'D?
why may we throw bouquets at ourselves
and look pleasant because it is not a case
OF mere front on our part? Just read this
clipping. 1t is not from The Star, but is
part of an editorial from a recent New
York paper. 1t says:
" The people OF New York city are en-
titled to greater protection than they are
ly a night passes without a burglary, and
when burglars bold and desperate
as to habitual1y attempt murder when they
are discovered in their marauding il means
that either the system designed to prevent
crime is faulty or else the men charged
with operating the system are incompetent
or neglectful.'
The Contrast in Washington
on see. that does not fit case at
all, as our men are competent and not neg
lectful. and we have system which all
professional crooks in the country know
and which we wish them please not to for
get. New York. of course, is the natural
habitat of the housebreaker. He fingers
there because of the size of the city the
various underground metropolitan methods
Tor his protection. and the political, crimi-
nal and other local conditions which [
need not recount, which make that city the
safest place in the country for him. New
York must alwayG remain the permanent
headquarters of the criminal element on
TINS side of the water, a 5 enViOus as Chi
cago may be to possess the distinction.
In Washington it is different. We know
all Of our local men who are criminally in
clined and we keep them on the move when
they are not doing time or working at le-
ultimate occupations. They can't stay with
US For example. the other day we had
man We know to be a born thief. and such
by occupation. in the Police Court on a
charge OF vagrancy We will not let him
work. Washington is poor loafng place
for thieves. That is one way we keep down
crime here-unCea sing vigilance over men
we know to be criminals When they really
go TO work We know that their protesta-
tons OF reforma tiOn are based upon a real
purpose for self bettcrmert, ard we en-
courage such men to lead better lives, but
it is work or get out of town
"A in. are constantly on the lookout
for strange crooks, whom run out of
town as quickly and unceren loniousy as
the law and the occasion permit. Our men
seem to 1nstinctfVely fall to a strange
crook from pure force of habit and away
he goes to other fields and pastures. When
a strange crook comes to town he never
tarrtes, he does his job as quickly as pos
sible ard gets out before it is reported to
us, taking his booty with him. 1t Is only
the small, inexperienced cracksman or
sneak thief, who attempts to dispose of his
swag here, and who tarries. and in these
instances apprehension and conviction Is
sure; 1t is only question of time until we
get them.
An Honest Burglar
Zone reason for the efficiency of our po-
lice and detective forces Is the absence of
the political pull in Washington. If a pa
trolmap a detective performs mis- duty
and some man is hurt there is no ward
leader. or local political chief to run to
and effect the officers transfer among the
goats in the suburbs
Il for one, believe that burglar will al
ways commit murder to escape capture.
and that the death penalty should be in
fiicted for the crime. AS The Star supports
this pathological principle l will tell you of
exceptional instance of a burglar who
may be called AN honest burglar and the
story, remarkable as 1t may appear, is true
During one of the big public receptions
Washington gives to the outside world.
when about the entire population of the
city was lined up along Pennsylvania ave-
hue watching the parade We received a re-
port of a burglary In the northwest We
sent out our men under our drag net Sys-
TEN of covering the city, and at o'clock
two headquarters detectives had spotted
two men on an 18th street car At H and
18th streets the burglars tipped them off,
separated and ran. Detective Vredenbury
chased one fellow into the yard of st. Pat
rieks Church, at 10th and G streets when
the thief turned and fred three shots point
blank at him. The only reason why Vre-
because the cartridges were blank, as were
also the two shells remaining unused In the
cylinder of the revolver.
II never heard Of burglar going a-burg-
ling with blank cartridges before, but it
proves that one of the craft at least had
conscientious ScrupleS aga inst taking life
If he had none against taking other peo-
pies property. He was one of the few
square thieves | have met, as he refused
to squeal on his pal. and went cheerfully to
prison on twelve years sentence, though
he was afterward pardoned.
This City ''Unhealthy" for Crooks.
Professional thieves and it is the pro-
fessional thief who is to be feared the man
who does his job, serves his term, and goes
right to work at robbing again, as the I'M
professional chaps are easily caught, have
learned that Washington is not healthy
city to work in Sometimes. however.
two or three and even more In a gang will
quietly slip into the city, work the street
cars or some big excursion and skip out
the same day. Late in the afternoon the
reports of losses will begin to come into
headquarters The precious visitors are
too shrewd to tarry, but even under these
disadvantageous circumstances We scent
their presence, as 1t were, and the head
quarters records show many clever cap
lures by our men, often without a single
clew, and again Just the crook thinks
himself safe and undiscovered, and is pull
inu out Of fnu