New-York tribune., 1908-11-11
THIEVES INFEST CITY
Many ROBBERIES UPTOWN
Detectiue and alleged Burglar
Fight Fierce Battle.

It hacame known Yesterday that there had
been an epidemic of burglaries in Harlem and
The Bronx recently. and that a climax
burglar and a detective who arrested MIN
fought a fierce battle in the vestibule OF a fash
onable apartment house in Harlem, and oi-
cycle policeman had a merry chase after an
other thief.
For several weeks gangs have been operating
through the Harlem district. pretending to sell
various household necessities. Detective George
Young of the Harlem bureau. got on the tran
of two we'll dressed young men who were acting
suspiciously and when he saw them enter the
apartment house at No. 537 West 15sth street
Yesterday he hid in the vestibue to get them as
they came out.
To the tenants in the house the young men
pretended that they selling needles. Mrs.
Ralph Weiner, whose home is on the third hoor'
left her apartment alone while she visited her
mother Mrs Celia UIImo, the floor above
The two men forced the door and cleared out
everything of value in the rooms One of them
stuffed all jewelry and small trinkets he could
find into his pockets. Mrs. Weiners leather
suit case was also pressed into service to carry
off the silver and larger valuabIes
A woman neighbor Of Mrs. Weiner saw the
men coming from the apartment and called
loudly for help. A crowd of excited tenants
rushed out into the hall and went laundering
down the stairs after the'thieves. only to see the
detective. with revolver drawn. waiting for the
two at the front door The man witt, the Heav-
flv packed suit case didn't heed the detectives
order to hold up his hands. but threw the case
at the officers head The detective was stunned
for an instant and the man, with his pockets
filed with jeweIry, had time to get into the
street. Young grappIed with the other. He
fired twice in the air, and Bicycle Patrolman
McGouch came to his assistance. The latter
followed the man over the roof of an empty
house near by, but the man escaped
McGough helped to subdue the detective =
prisoner and he was taken to Police Head
quarters. There he said be was Benjamin
Osher. at No. 26 jefferson street. He would
/ tell nothing about his companion The police
believe that the two are members Of the
same band that has committed many burglaries
in Harlem and The Bronx during the last few
weeks Mrs Weiner valued the jewelry stolen
at $400
A gang of daring fire escape burglars has
been opera ting in Prospect avenue, The Bronx
and several of the robberies were reported to
the police Of the Morrisana station Monday.
In each case the thieves climbed the fire es-
capes and jimmied their way into the rooms
through the window.
They climbed to the top floor of the apart
rlent house at No 1866 Prospect avenue and
-
$500 from the apartment of William Greenholm.
On the floor below. the apartment of Harry
/ GreenbIatt was robbed Of 800 worth of brac-a-
brac. At Nos. 1858 and 1855 Prospect avenue
I Che gang visited the apartment OF Mrs. Angus
/ tine Kuhnla and had difficulty in making of
with $3.50 worth of jewelry and vafuables.
In the apartment house Nos 1857 and 1883
Prospect avenue the home OF Arthur Armstrong
on the top floor was visited 1t is thought the
burglars intended TO repeat their performance
/ at No 1865 but were scared off by the barking
of dog They had property valued at $500 be-
/ longing to Mr.. Armstrong packed up when the
! dog awakened Mr.. Armstrong. Special patrols
/ of detectives have been assigned to the work OF
/ rounding up the gang that has Harlem and The
! Bronx hOuseholders On the anxious seat
I Next door to the rear of Police Headquarters,
/ in Mott street. burglar worked yesterday morn
/ ing and the Central Office detectives knew moth
/ ing about it until the burglary was reported
| later in the day. The place is occupied by Al
! fonzo Alversa, a saoonkeeper. Some one stole
/ 81 40 in cash. a revolver. razor. some whiskey
and cigars The total loss the proprietor re-
/ ported was SO 40. Frank Napol, of No %
! street was arrested last night charged with the
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