The San Francisco call., 1903-12-26
PICKPOCKETS
REAP HARVEST
Many Street Car Passengers
Involuntarily Donate Some
Christmas "Cheer" to Thieves
NUMEROUS THEFTS MADE
Pawnshop Display Window Is
Robbed and a Gasoline En-
cine PurlOined From Boat

The usual number Of Christmas holi-
Gay touches" have come 10 the notice
of the police. Many cases Of pickpock-
eting on street cars and other places
were reported yesterday. In each case
the amounts were small being limited
10 the actual value Of the contents Of
the purses stolen. A pswnbroher re-
ports that his show window was broken
in and a number of gold and silver
watches were stolen. A gasoline en-
gine was removed from the boat from
which the two fishermen were drowned
on Tuesday.
T f. Monaghan Of 225 Fourteenth
street was riding on a Mission street
car Thursday night When between
Ninth and Eleventh streets a light-fin-
gered crook extracted Monaghan's
uocketbook, containing SIS in coin.
Monaghan did not discover the theft
until he had reached his home. He then
remembered that he had been jostled
by a tough-looking character, and at
once connected the stranger with the
stealing Of his money.
Yesterday afternoon ". Nelson of
1929 Vermont street reported TO the
police that he had been relieved Of
purse containing s. and some trinkets
while riding on a Hayes-street car.
Nelson told the same 'jostling'' story
and the police are Of the opinion that
The two thefts were performed by the
same crooks. In each case the pres
enCe Of a ''stsI' was noticed by the
passengers on the cars. The stalls
part would be 70 engage the attention
~ the party selected for a victim and
while the man was engaged the pal
would relieve him Of his valuables
F. Gafrke Of 80 Montgomery street
gave his mite 10 the Christmas cheer
of the pickpOckets by an involuntary
contribution Of a valuable gold watch
and a black leather purse containing
SO Ganke was going home on a
south bound Montgomery-str car.
when the crooks worked him for his
share toward their Christmas harvest.
Mrs. Annie Burns Of 725 Washington
street went into Clark's Bakery on
Kearny street near Commercial TO pur-
chase some bread. While showing the
clerk the kind Of that edible she wished.
an unscrupGlous individual pocketed
her purse. which she had foolishly laid
The purse contained $40 80 and a num-
Der of keys and receipts.
T. Epstein. pawnbroker at 620 Clay
street. reported 10 the police last night
that his show window had been broken
in on the morning Of December % and
lot Of silver and gold watches stolen.
Fnstein was unable TO fix the exact
value Of the stolen goods. buc said the
theft would leave him loser about $500.
The pawnbrolzer thinks he viii be able
70 identify the burglars should they
he ca aDtured. He says three men were
seen by him loafng in front Of the win
dow an hour or SO before the watches
We're stolen. Epstein had a good view
of the men and says that he viii know
them again.
Paul Licata Of l31 Francisco street
reported TO the police last night that
the gasoline engine from the boat from
which the Girardi brothers we've drown
ed last Tuesday had been stolen from
the boat The engine was missed on
Thursday morning. It had been in the
boat, which was lying on the beach,
tho day before. Detectives were de-
tailed 10 see whether they could find
the missing engine.