New-York tribune., 1905-12-28
LOOT HOMES AT WILL.
Burglars Unchecked on Upper West
Side-Booty Worth $4,000.

Burglars have been plying their trade so brazenly
the upper West Side IN the last four months
that nearly every family from West 5sth-st to
West 74th-st is constantly in state of nervous
ness Ten houses have been broken into in the last
two weeks and twenty -four in three months. the
total value of the loot being close to $4,000.
So frequent have the robbertes become that the
West End Association at its next regular meeting
will be asked to take action. The residents
Of the district where robberes have been so brazen
and frequent will ask the association to appeal to
the Mayor for increase in the police force
This action follows the lootng of the home of Max
Naumberg, at No 137 West 74th-st. last Saturday
night Mr.. Naumberg is head of the firm Of NJ. &
I. Naumberg. clothiers. at University Place and
11th-st. When seen yesterday at his office he con-
1rmed the report that his house had been robbed
while the family at dinner the loss being
close to 5000. Mr. Naumberg was nervous himself.
and said his entire family was living In continual
worriment. His servants have refused to stay in
the house alone since the robbery, and his wife
and daughters almost on the verge of collapse.
THE value of the jewelry stolen is nothing, he
said, compared to the torment of living G2y by
day in a state of high nervous excitement. not
knowing what hour ones brains may be blown
the dearest treasures lifted from before our
eyes. There is only thing to blame for this
bold lootng of home, and that is the scarcity
of police We have no police system on The upper
West Side 1 have barricaded my roof and
every window of the house. but can't say that
my home is yet impregnable.
''There are a dozen houses about me that have
been looted in the same manner recently. As soon
as my neighbors heard of the robbery Saturday
night every one came in with a similar tale. It's
high time demanded adequate police protection
for our homes. The lighting of the district is so
poor, too that the locality is easily prey to the
night prower" " 5ss=e-
Mr. Naunaberg's home was broken INTO while M
and his family at dinner, shortly after s
O'Clock Saturday night It is thought the robbers
hiding in the upper part of the house and
got to work the moment the family was down
stairs. AS there was no other evidence it is pre-
sumed the thieves got in by the scuttle. reaching
the roof through empty house four doors away
They took every article of value that could be
converted into cash easily, throwing aside costly
bric-a-brac and heavy clothing.
Every drawer was ransacked for jewelry, OF
which the thieves obtained about fifty pieces val
ued at $1,000 Mr.. Naumberg had his valuables
insured and the Fidelity and Guaranty Company
has sent out list of the things stolen. Some of
the fewelry consisted of family heirooms. of little
face value but precious family tokens. Among
these were a Tiffany gold watch. $50; astrachan
muf and boa, $25; a gold neckchain. pearl and
diamond pendant $50; gold dragon pin with dla-
mond. S1OO sapphire and pearl pin $50, and TWO
gold chains and locket, S29.
The house at No. 157 in the same street and sew
eraI in other streets were into in the same
manner in the last few weeks. One woman who
lived few doors from Mr.. Naumberg left the
district because she was afraid to live there. The
house has not been rented since superstition mat
II is the prey of burglars driving away every
rrosnective renter. Another house, fitted out with
I,,rgIar alarms was broken into by an ingenious
device Of the thieves They knew that every pa ar
~ the house was wired but the middle OF the
oof T-lev sawed hole in the roof so quietly that
not q soul heard them. Then they slipped tnroustt t
the hole. and looted the house 10 the extent VI