The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-04-22
THE HOTEL THIEF
His Operations and characteristics
Described by a Detective.
ashin-ton Star)

Nv u9tiill-i1N cLdE.l
while the bank burglar is accounted
the king among the criminal fraternity
the professional hotel thief is the slick.
est, said the house detective OF a
fashionable uptown hotel
TT is my business TO keep track OF
these polished rascals, and about ff-
teen of the best known hotel thieves
have, within a recent period, been
caught and put away that IS. they
are now safely ensConCpd within
prison walls in the different peniten-
tiaries, to the benefit Of the public at
large.
You know. it has often been said
that no lock on the door of a room IN a
hotel is proof against the pick Of a
professional hotel thief or any bolt
that he cannot slip. This IS an error.
While he may be able 20 pick any lock
if he has the time and the tools. be
has not the time. IL he has the tools.
The hotel thief must act quickly or no.
at all He does not try 10 work in
hotel which has yale locks, as he can
not pick these, and some Of the modern
new locks. finland, and. knowing this.
he transfers his usefulness TO other
fields 4 single tumbleT' lock he can
open easily with 4 pick. but for a Jock
with two or more tumbiers he mus.
have "a skeleton key, and perhaps sew
eral before he finds one which viii do
the job. As ueTVy as he is, the hotel
thief does not want to stand in front
Of a door in the hall with half dozen
skeleton keys TN his hand. though be
carries them in variety.
The game Of the professional hotel
thief may be checkmated to great
extent. What is called a double lock
in use I'm many of the larger hotels tn
the United States, puts the thief ont Of
business when he goes Up against it
unexpectedly If the guest viii only take
the DrecautiOn TO lock his door when
he retires. There are two locks Of
identical make placed on the door, one
above the other. the keyhOie 0penins
on the outside in one instance and or
the inside in the other. There IS, c0nse-
Quently. no communication between the
locks The turning Of the key from the
outside in the ordinary lock, where the
keyhole goes clear through the door
with pair Of slender niDpers canuo,
be effected. nor can the door. locked By
the inside lock. be opened by the thief
from the outside. for there is no outer
aperture.
THE hotel thief takes desperate
chances. is always well dressed and
often Of fine. gent.emanly appearance
When he unexpectedly enters a room
and finds il occupied. his polite, p.als-
ible and ever ready explanation Of De-
ing in the wrong room accompanied
by profuse apologies, dispeis doubt as
to his personality with women IN near
" all cases, especially il he be young
and good looking. Men are more sl''
picious, and can tell easier whether
man is telling the truth or merely pi1l-
ing
"A professional hotel thief ssa9l
works ha9hazard. He makes ls
mark. that IS, Identifies the person u
intends TO rob. and the room tie ll-
suspecung victim occupies III
latter be a rich miner from the vest
the thief banks upon his carrying
heavy roll Of the long green lh p
clothes at ali times, and his sra-- y
TO get into the victim room AZ Als--
when the latter is asleep, and rife hi1
pockets. If the mark be p laaE ei'
wears at times a Dr0tJsion Oh --.
monds, his graft changes, ana DC y ~
observe the occasions when she l}-7
not wear her jewels. say at dinner -
]
the chance Of finding the room ul'-,
cupied. and the diamonds. too. ana "a
himself being caught If the lady's nl-.-
remains upstairs. and Is Foxy ei.'1-'
10 get wise at once. ..-..,
Don't believe what is said about
house detective being able 10 sp'sr ,-
hotel thief on sight That's o j az
and. If it were true. there would p 70
hotel robberies. They can spot DID (.
thew know him. OF have in their Dino
good descriptions OF the more 1IoEs
1ent cnaps they haven't met. as p.
tel thief is constantly changing p
makeup. There IS none az your l .tsr
dog. hard visage' about the h'lei W.. -Ts
7 If you don't know MIN he IS JUST 81
any other welI-dressed, easy --lls--.. "a
guest with the price OF his room - PHI
/ pocket He could not operate aL
I he were any other type al thiai- .-.
/ house burglar and the common o.-
nal do not trOt iu the same Grass
the stylish hotel thief