Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-30
VICTIMS OF BURGLARS
LOSSES OF CAPITOL HILL RESI-
DENTS BY CARELEssNEss.

Several persons living Capitol Hill
have recently had expensive experiences
with midnight or early morning callers,
and in most cases the occupants of the
premises contributed to their own loss by
failure to close their windows, doors or
gates.
It's not nice thing to wake up N the
morning and find that some fellow has
been through the house" remarked one of
the victims to Star reporter last night.
The loss of money and jewelry IS bad
enough, but when the intruder sits at the
table and helps himself to the best there
Is in the house and makes it necessary TO
do some hustling for breakfast food, ii S
rubbing it In a little too hard"
Such was the experience of this particu-
lar victim. He had paid no attention to
the wolus of warning spoken by Maj. Syl-
vester so many times during the years he
has had charge of the police department
He had not kept his windows and doors
securely fastened, and, the police think
contributed to the success of the burglar
by his carelessneSs.
Surprising Results.
Mai. Sylvester issued an order to the
members of his department a few weeks
ago directing the officers to examine all
premises and report the number of gates
and windows they found open. The re-
suit was surprising TO everybody except
the police. They had made such examine
tons before and found dozens of cases in
which occupants of houses had given evil
dence of carelessness. AT this season of
the year, when the weather Is warm
and so many people leave their windows
open in order to get all the fresh air they
can. the danger of robbery is greatly in
creased. 1t Is a fact that while people
leave their windows open they do not take
the precaution to attach an alarm of any
kind, and there is nothing to prohibit the
mil lob tarc fro
hitting robberles.
Its an easy matter for a person to Sc
curely fasten a SCREEN" said policeman
who discussed the question land If that is
too much trouble some heavy object can
be placed in position where the opening
of the screen will cause it to fall upon the
floor"
Capt. Boardman. who has much ex-
perience in such matters, thinks people
should not endeavor to shrk responsibility
In the matter of protecting their homes
from attacks on the part of burglars. He
is constantly receiving devices Of various
kinds that are intended for use in the
matter of frightening off intruders, and
some of the less expensive ones, he thinks;
should not be hard to dispose of to peo-
pie who persist in leaving their houses
practically unprotected.
The Average Force.
While the police have a duty to perform
there are seldom more than 90 of them on
duty at any one time, and frequently the
number is much smaller. During the winter
season, when many men get sick from ex-
posture, the number averages about 100
With this number of men scattered over the
entire District 1t is easily seen that each
individual home cannot expect to claim
much share of the time of policeman.
"If the people will do their part" po-
liceman remarked. I'VE will do ours but
when invitations are practically extended
to the tramp thief he is hardly to be blamed
for accepting the invitation
In the cases recently reported the In
truders have investigated the interior Of
refrigerators and cupboards in yards, as
we'll as looking for money and jewery in
houses. While the property taken IN the
several houses this summer does not
amount to more than $500 or $500, the an
noyance caused has been great and the
police are endeavoring to apprehend the
thieves.
Charged With Theft.
Edna Robinson, colored seventeen years
old, arrested yesterday afternoon by
Policeman Wendell for the alleged theft of
a pair of secondhand shoes from Barbara