The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-11-23

Hammond was raided by a gang OF
housebreakers last night. and four res
licences were entered and ransacked by
the thieves in their search for plunder.
IE all the cases the houses entered
were ones where the occupants were
away at the time and luckily the men
engaged in the operations got but little
to pay them for their trouble. II IS
estimated that s1Oo would cover the
loss Of all the places.
Not for many months has such a
wholesale footing taken place The
work was evidently that of men who
were experienced in it. although the
local police think the jobs were per-
formed by Hammond celebrities. Al
though only four have been reported
there may be still more, and they win
| later be reported when the occupants
return to their homes. Two OF the
breaks reported were In the arlstocratic
southern section Of the city within
stones throw Of each other and the
other two were on the east side.
Entrance Same in Each Case.
In each case entrance was gained by
means of forcing a rear door or win
dow. From the marks left it was easily
seen by the police that a Jimmy was
used. once inside the house the thieves
turned everything upside down seeking
no doubt money and jewelry and what
could be easily converted into ready
cash. Many valuable pieces of bric-a-
brac were left undisturbed. but every
thing that could possibly be used as 4
hiding place for coin was ransacked
In Judge John II. Gilletts house at
the corner of South Holman and Car
roll streets entrance gained hrr
means of rear window. The window
had been forced with a steel jimmy.
and the lock shattered. The same
house was entered once before and
: Judge Gillett after a careful investiga-
tion into the robbery traced the crime
to Hammond boy. one Mueller. who is
now serving time on another charge.
After that robbery the house was fitted
with steel doors and double barred
windows but they did not keep out the
intruders last night After thorough
search Of the house the thieves secured
only gold hoop ring. a plain band
ring and a black sweater the thieves
evidently finding it cold work. From
the Ginett house they evidently went
! to the home Of Dr. Z. b. Olwin at 80
! Carroll street. or. Oiwin is away at
! the present time and after gaining en-
: trance by breaking the lock on the
, celler door. they worked at their
leisure II is not known what they
4 secured here as no one can take an
inventory.
Work on Enst side.
! On the east side they broke into
! the house OF r Planks 519 Sibley
, street. who is also away and it Is
not known what was taken here. N
: the back yard child's savings bank
was found broken open. The house Of
George W. Shade was entered while
the family were away and $3.50 in
money and a revolver were taken
!, Owing TO the present financial string
: ency. It is generally believed that
: money is being stored away in houses
; instead Of depositing II in the banks.
For this reason many housebreakers
!. viii be Iured into the work for the
purpose Of getting to these alleged
stockings" and Chief Rimbach who
!, with Capt. Austgen and several erll-
GERS are working on the case, ask that
: people who are going away from home
q for any length OF time. notify the
I police 50 that the house may be watch
z ed in their absence. There is no doubt
that the crooks watched the houses
they entered and waited for favor
able opportunity 1t would also be
well for the householdeEs< see care
fully that the doors a lows are
: locked.