Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24
COG THIEVES IN ENGLAND
TELLS HOW ROGUES
PLY THEIR TRADE.
On the Lookout for Valuable Ami
mals-Gaining Dogs Good Will.
Changing the Marking.

From London Tit-Bts.
AS the T. B. man stood chatting with q
well known detective q splendid collie
raced down the street.
Now" remarked this famous criminal
tracker, there is a sample of the way the
idiotic public plays into the hands of the
crooks. That dog is running around quite
unattended. and he cannot be worth less
than 45. Would one leave a five-pound
watch lying around loose for any one TO
pick up? The dog has been turned out
to have a run. and I shouldn't wonder
IL his fun carries him ten miles or SO
from here.
II know what you are going to say:
How could stranger grab that dog and
make off with it without risk OF leaving
part Of his anatomy in the dogs nav
They don't grab. my dear man. But they
know how to entice the dog from his
owner, and too we'll they know how to
insure the dogs never getting BACK nome
again. 1t isn't likely that dog thief will
there are some fool dogs that will make
friends with any one who pets them and
go along without q murmur when a
leash Is attached to their necks.
But the dog thief who makes busl-
ness Of stealing family pets makes money
enough at it to take time and get away
with the animal in leisurely fashion. That
collie you saw bounding past us just
now will catch the eye of one of these
dog stealers, probably. me thiet VIII
more than the average laboring man can
make In two weeks by honest work. The
worth Of the animal having been salts
factorily estimated. the thief will watch
him until he frisks home. Having noted
the address and fingered around, II 1t is
safe to do SO, until the name Of the dog
has been learned, the thief will then re-
tire from the field. to await the hour
loved by those whose deeds are evil.
A Visit by Night.
TT il probable the thief has taken the
time to note the position of the dog $
kennel in the yard. If it is a house dog
that is to say, If it is one of those pam
pered pets that live in luxury and sleep
on a sofa--it is likely the thief will give
I'D the idea of stealing the animal, for
this class of crook does not break into
houses for his quarry. Say the position
of the kennel in the garden has been noted
and the name Of the dog learned, then the
thief steals up to the spot in the dead of
night and calls the occupant of the ken
mel from his slumbers by name. 1t is
more important than 1t appears to learn
dog is to accept the friendship Of man
who whispers wheedlingly the word that
it answers to from those it loves.
Bribed by Juicy Meat.
THE Ice broken. so to speak, by the af-
fectionate address of this man, who
comes with a speaking acquaintance. the
dogs goodwill Is clinched by the gift OF
an entirely unexpected meal Of juicy
meat. Few dogs are proof against this
card of introduction. The doom of the
dog is sealed the moment he swallows
the first morsel of the meat. Another
piece is thrown to him. He swallows
this and looks expectantly for more. After
a third and fourth piece the dog will be
ready to go to the end of the earth with
the generous stranger. 1t is q simple
matter then to unfasten the chain and
release the dog, which will follow more
than willingly for the sake of the scraps
that are thrown down from time to time.
"A dog thief will keep his eyes open
for animals that are being taken for
an airing by their owners. When he
sees one that he thinks will sell for a
owner home. Later on he will make the
dogs personal acquaintance In the way
described. But there are dogs, of course,
that cannot be wheedled.
Some of the men who pose as ped
dlers and go around from house to house
are merely dog thieves watching for a
chance to carry off the family pet They
can't steal big dogs in that way Of
course, but the little dog is their game.
How to Guard Your Dog.
1.-The dog thieves take the stolen ami
mails to other towns. and there isn't one
chance in a hundred of getting them
back. If there are strong distinguishing
marks on the animal the thief will change
these so as to make Identification diff
cult. An example Of this that came to
my notice was the Disgusting OF a
fine bull terrier that was stolen from a
wealthy fancier. Big patches Of liver
color were burned on the back of the
animal with caustic. and mark or two
on it's ears and a few on its paws COM
pleted an effectual disguise.
How can we guard our dogs? you
ask. Well, can only say it is necessary
to look after them in the same way
as you do other valuables. If the dog
Is left out at night see that he Is chained
with a chain that cannot easily be re-
moved. II there Is q lot of filing to be
done 1t lessons the dog thiefs chances
A'Quick getaway is essential, for the dog
NAV change his tone il there is lot ~