Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-19
THIEvINa WITH HOOK AND LINE
Mexico Turns Out Some Artists in the
Line of Petty Larceny.

| from the New York sun
In Mexico the sneak thief has his bust
ness down to a science. The favored man
ner OF stealing is from the houses. Most
OF the buildings but one story high
and the doors are kept closed and locked
The windows are as large as the doors ami
extend to the floor To keep the thieves
oft of the house they are protected with
heavy iron bars, but the Mexican sneak
thief has found a way TO overcome this
difficulty.
Because of the lowness of the window
he can look into the room and spot the
articles he wishes Then he waits until
tbs occupant of the room is in some oth=r
part of the house. bamboo pole about
as long fishing rod Is produced, 10
which is attached a piece OF string with a
FISH hook on the end.
The thief by practice can cast the HOOK
go that 1t will catch on almost any article
in the room no matter how far it may be
from the window. Slowly II is drawn for
ward and pulled through the bars.
Ir this manner articles taken Off the
bureau or tables. rugs snatche6 from the
floor and bed clothes from the bed Cloth
Ing left on chairs or hanging on the wall
is easily removed. The thieves do not even
wait until the occupants out of the
room in all cases. There have been cases
where men and women who were undress-
ms in their rooms have lost clothing while
their backs were turned TO the window.
a short time ago the wife of we'll
known mining engineer dressing to
GO to dance. She had removed part OF
her clothes from the wardrobe and turned
her back. Hearing noise she turned just
In time to see her dress disappearing out
OF the window. She screamed for help, but
before she could explain what had hap
pened the thief had escaped.
An Episcopal minister who went to take
charge of a congregation had a sad ex-
perience The congregation was a large
one for Mexico and he expected to live IN
modern rectory. However there were
no American houses for rent in the town.
lie was shown to typical Mexican house
and as he was tired Went to bed as soon
as the committee had retired.
He was instructed not 10 place anything
movable near the window. He needed the
advice and drawing chair near the bed
placed his clothes on it. In the morning
when he awoke he was shocked to find
that his clothes and shoes were missing
He looked for his grip and saw 1t near the
window. 1t had been opened and every
stitch it contained taken out The satchel
would have been taken. too, If the thief
could have pulled 1t through the iron bars
The Clergyman could not speak a word
of Spanish and he was expected to preach
his first sermon that morning. He could
not go out in barrel because there was
no barrel. The sheet on the bed was a
small affair and he was large man. There
was nothing for him to do but to sit down
on the bed and hope that come of the mem
bers of his congregation would come to
the house In about half an hour after
the time set for the service the committee
which had escorted him to the room in
the evening arrived. The rector was found
huddled up on the bed with the little sheet
wrapped around him. After explanations
had been made the men procured wagon
and went to the station and got the
parsons trunk and he was able to dress.