Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-30
BURGLARS LOOT
POSTOEFICE SAFE
SANTA MONICA STRONG BOX IS
BLOWN OPEN
BOOTY ESTIMATED AT S3266
e Postal Authorities Are Unable to Find
Any Clue, but Believe the Same
Thieves Robbed Long
Beach Office
Booty ESTIMATED AT S32ee

Robbers broke open the strongbox of
the Santa Monica postoff1ce early yes
terday morning and made their escape
with 100000 stamps, $266 and seven reg
, istered letters.
The robbery was not detected until
6 o'clock yesterday morning when
Postmaster K. b. Summerfield opened
the office for the day. He found hole
drilled through the four-inch steel door
of the safe and the entire contents gone.
After thorough investigation, last
ing all day yesterday, the police were
unable to find a clue which might lead
them to the capture of the safe blow
ers, but it is believed by the detectives
and postal authorities who are working
on the case that they are the same men
who blew open and robbed the safe
of the Long Beach postoff1ce few days
ago, securing several thousand dollars
in stamps and money.
Office Doors Locked
The postmaster says that when he
went to the office yesterday morning
everything seemed to be in the same
order as he left it the night before.
The front door of the office, which is
closed by the night watchman at 1
o'clock was locked, as was the door to
the inside office where the safe is kept.
mot until I went to the safe and
placed my hand on the combination did
know that the office had been robbed
said the postmaster yesterday. "The
door was closed, but noticed that the
table, which stands close by, had been
moved from the wall and a number of
paper mail sacks were strewn on the
floor. hurriedly threw open the door
and found that every scrap of paper
had been removed and the combination
on the inside was a total wreck"
Mr.. Summerfield summoned City
Marshal M. K. Barretto and notified
the postal inspector in Los Angeles.
Watchman Closed Office
Night Watchman c. C. Scovel,
whose duty 1t is to lock the postoffice
building at 1 o'clock each morning, de-
clares that he entered the building be-
fore locking it yesterday morning and
ooiu thdI CNCl IlllliS was Ill llS
order. He says the electric light was
burning over the safe in the inner Of
flee and the window curtain was down
in front of the building.
The marshal found chisel marks on
the panel Of the inner office door, but
the burglars abandoned this means of
effecting an entrance, according to the
nfH folt hA ooIr ,;aI, I. al
down the general delivery window was
found to be broken.
While the marshal was tracing every
possible clue to the robber, report
was received that W. C. Wilson's
blacksmith shop, 141 Third street, had
been broken into during the night and
several steel bits and a sledge hammer
stolen.
A few moments later Fred Grund-
hoefer, 31S Utah street, reported that
he had frightened two men away from
his carpenter shop while they were at
tempting to break open a window at
about 1880 o'clock.
The police believe that these were the
men who robbed the postoffice. Grund-
hoefer described one of the men as be-
ing short in stature and heavy set, |
dark complexioned, dark mustache and
wearing small, dark cap.
1t is believed that the tools stolen
from the Wilson blacksmith shop were
used by the robbers to open the safe.
Work of Experts
1t is also believed that the men who