The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1903-01-19
SMITHS LOOTED
Sneak Thieves Get Away
With Valuable Jewelry
While the Family
Is Out.

Sneak thieves, after having made sue
cessful tours in about every other part
of Jersey City, have at last reached the
Greenyille section, with the. result that
there have been two bold robberies with
in the past week. In both cases valu-
ables to the amount of several hundred
dollars were taken and no trace Of the
thieves found by the police
These thieves seem To have no diffieul-
ty in getting into honses and getting
away with the goods 1t is conlpsra-
lively easy, judging from the manner in
which it is done.
The latest robbery took place Satur-
day afternoon in broad daylight, when
the apartments of Mrs. Minnie E. Smith,
ut No. 113 Bayview avenue, We're en-
tered while the family was away The
intruder simply opened the front door
h a skeleton key and made his way
upstairs. He ransacked the bedrooms
and broke open a ehiffonier an da small
trunk. From the former he tooksa gold
watch and two chains, valued at $165,
diamond ring, worth $50, an opal ring,
a brooch set with pearls and silver
bracelet.
The small trunk that was broken open
belongs to the oldest daughter of Mrs.
Smith. From it We're taken ring set
with emeralds, valued at $50 gand one
with pearls, valued at $40. The. whole
amount was worth close to $40O.
The thief in his desire to collect more
goods and money even went so far as
ito turn the beds and bedclothes upside
down. The bedrooms were the only
places disturbed, though it is not likely
that the intruder left without examining
other places, where he rnought valuables
may have been concealed.
This all happened shortly after noon.
Mrs. Smith had gone out and her two
daughters were eating lunch when tall,
thin, we'll dressed young man rang the
bell. He inquired of the girl if her
mother was home, and on learning that
sne was not, asked when she would be
back. Within fifteen minutes he was
back again, this time to ask if Mrs.
Butler, who lives ON the first floor, was
at home. Learning that she was not he
/
third time. within ten minutes. 1t was
then he told the girl that an express
wagon was to come that afternoon with
some goods and wanted to know if any
uare wouId be home to receive it. He
was told that no one would be around
| until after three o'clock, as both girls
were going out.
Shortly before one o'clock the girls
left. 1t is supposed that the stranger
then entered the house and cleaned up
the job in good shape. The thefts were
not discovered until that evening, when
the Oldest daughter vent TO her trunk
| to get her rings. The police were notified
and Detective Larkins came to look the
place over.
The next morning Mrs. Butler, on
opening her dining room window found
marks of jimmy on the window and on
the sill. This showed plainly that bur-
glars had attempted to force an entrance
into her apartments.
The police have the description of the
man who made so many inquiries at the
Smith home and a list of the stolen
goods.
A few days ago the residence of Mrs.
Sayre, at No. SO Linden avenue, was
robbed in much the same manner. The
thief got in through a front parlors win
dow and stole number of jewels and
| silverware.
Greenville people are very much
alarmed over the frequency of these rob-
berries and are taking extra precautions
| to protect themselves.