Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-09
P|CKPOCKETS AND
BURGLARS ACTIVE
CROOKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
FIESTA CROWDS
Houses Entered and Money and Jewels
Stolen on the Streets-PoIlce
Make Three Important
Arrests

Robberies reported to the police yester'
day show that burglars and pickpockets
are taking advantage OF Fiesta croWos
and the police have again sounded tins
warning. Hands on your p3ShesoooAs' pSoIIoytS,
r. r. Lewis, 15l2 South Los AngeleS
street; gold watch, some silverware and
about 81 in money.
Thomas Terrett, S4I South san Pedro
street; suit of clothes
" S. Rawley 30 Hellman building;
purse containing so stolen by pickpocket
while Mr. Rawley was watching parade.
q. 70. Leech. Lawndale, robbed of 81 by
holdup man on North Main street.
S. H Garrett. 1859 New England; room
robbed of diamond ring, clothing and set
of gold pins; total value, Sl6O.
w. w. Taylor, 2o29 Magnolia; gold
watch, chain, bracelet and rings stolen by
burglar.
entered with pass key and two watches,
chain, suit case of clothing and SIS in
Mabel Snyder. 812iA West First street,
robbed of watch and fob by. man during
Lily Knoll, $40 Francisco street; purse
containing $34 Snatched from her hand
during parade at Temple block.
High class crook and dip men of
worldwide fame are in Los Angeles and
carrying on their work in manner which
is giving the members of the police and
detective bureaus sleepless nights. Valu-
able diamond studs have been nipped from
shirt bosoms. watches have been slipped
from pockets and purses stolen from
women, while detectives from all parts of
the world, supposed to know every crook
of note, stood within a few feet of where
the crime was committed, yet did not sue
ceed in capturing any. of the thieves
Room workers are also busy, and many
persons returned to their homes after
viewing the parade to find that some sleek
robber had been ahead of them and
walked off with jewels, money and silver
ware Locked windows and barred doors
seemed to have little terror for the gentry
of the jimmy and pass key, and even the
most carefully locked houses were en-
tered.
Who is it that. is doing this work."
is the query asked at central station YES
terday. and none of the officers were able
can tell what class of mn are doing the
work, but cannot name individuals
Clever Crooks Do Work
'"rhe cleverest crooks in the country"
say the police and any one of them
would be good catch for the depart
ment at any time"
Clever crooks they are to a certainty
With light touch and gentle fingers they
have succeeded in stealing thousands Of
dollars in money and jewels, yet are not
through the crowds they work dipping
into a pocket here and there and now and
then taking shirt stud or valuable
brooch.
They are men and women, for the gentle
sex is also represented here, who prepared
weeks ago for the crowds which are now
who have carefully laid their plans and
who have matters so arrznged that a
speedy getaway is ready at any moment.
Men and women as well acquainted with
all sections of the city as any of the
regular officers and who know the inside
history of every city official.
In many cases they are well dressed
men of good manners and education
men who think it is better to make an
easy living, no matter what the risk, than
to do honest work for fair wages.
These facts were gained from a detec-
tive connected with a private agency
who is now working in Los Angeles and
is here for the express purpose of pro-
tecting the city's guests from the light
fingered gentry.
Hard to Catch
1T is no snap to nail these people at
their work." he said last night, "and
any detective will tell you that when an
officer is up against a professional high
class pickpocket he has shrewd man to
deal with. They are men of such good
appearance that an officer hesitates to ac-
cuse them of stealing for fear they may
be prominent men, and yet frequently he
is confident they are the ones who have
been doing the work.
1.-THE women are also hard to catch.
] know there is one working in Los An
geleS now who will carry away with her
a number of valuable stones and good
sum of money she has taken from other
persons There is small chance of catch
ing her in any act, as she always works
where the crowds are thickest. makes a
touch and goes away. She destroys every
piece of loot that has mark by which
1t could be identified and will not touch
a watch. 7 have not seen her yet, but
heard today that she is in the CITY,"
All the detectives at the police station
the thieves and several uniformed Of
flcers are doing plain clothes work after
the robbers.
Caught at Ostrich Farm
The chief harvest of the robber band
that is gathered in the city of Angels
Ostrich farm Tuesday.