The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-06

After the preparation of series Of
robberies aggregating fully $4,000 by
a gang Of porch climbers who have
carried on their operations successful
ly under the very noses of the Mime
apoliS police the latter have admitted
their inability to cope with the situa-
ton and have made an appeal to the
public to bar their second story win
doWs and keep close watch upon their
Valuables.
The robberies which brought about
the PRONUNCIATION of this unprecedented
appeal for popular aid began about
four weeks ago and have continued at
regular intervals in spite of the efforts
of the police. Eight houses in all have
been entered and jewelry stolen to the
amount of $4,000. In one instance
the amount taken reached 1000 and in
another fully $4,000, while in the other
six the losses ran from $500 to $500.
T. Lowry Is Victim.
The largest haul was made at the
home of Thomas Lowry, Hennepin and
Groveland avenue. JeWelry to the value
of $4,000 was taken. The thieves ap-
parently gained access through the
second story, but the work was so
clever1y done that the exact day of the
loss cannot be ascertained. The rings
and other ornaments and SAT in money
were taken from a bag in Mrs. Lowry's
room. The bag with no diminution of
size was left in it's accustomed place
and Mrs. Lowry did not discover her
loss until Thursday when she opened
the bag in search of some rings she
wished to take with her to Monticello
the Lowry summer home.
PiIIsbury House Visited.
The robbery at Mrs. Alice Pillsburys
home, Third avenue south and Tenth
street, was reported about the same
time. The estimated loss at the Pills
bury house amounted to about $4,000.
AS in the case of the Lowrys the work
bore evidence of having been done by
experts hands. There too access was
gained apparently through a second
story window.
The six other robberies In connection
with which no names have been given
out by the police, bear evidence of hav-
ing been done by the same gang. En-
trance in each case is supposed to have
been made through the second story
The plumber secured consists mostly of
rings, watches, fobs, chains, brooches,
pins, studs and other forms of jewelry,
although some money was taken. The
thieves in most places were careful to
take nothing else.
Chief Waite last night issued an ap
peal to the public to cooperate with
the police in preventing further de-
predations.
'Lock your second story windows"
is the marning of the chief, "and watch
your second floors. Also put your
valuables where they can't be reached"
The public are also requested to keep
close watch on suspicious characters
and to otherwise aid the police in de-
tecting the criminals.
Capt. Doyle, chief of detectives, in
letter to Chief Waite stated that the
operations were the work Of a we'll
organized gangsof experienced porch
climbers and second story workers,
who persist in their refusal to be cap
tured by the police or detectives. He
excuses the inability of the department
to cope with the present situation on
the familiar ground that the force is
not large enough to cover the extensive
territory of the city.
Appeal to ST. Paul.
Although they have been working
diligently since the first robbery the
police have not yet succeeded in land
ing any of the thieves. They have
appealed to the police Of st. Paul and
other cities to assist them in running
down the gang.
The entire police force of st. Paul
last evening turned their attention to
protecting the city. The st. Anthony
hill district was vigilantly guarded
against possible depredators. 1t is
thought that this, the gang working in
Minneapolis, is the same one that laid
the wealthy district in Milwaukee I'M
der tribute until driven out by the po-
lice.