Connecticut western news., 1910-10-20
A WAVE OF CRIME
 SWEEPS NEW ENGLAND
Yegg Men Begin Reaping
 Their Fall Harvest.
A NEW AND A MOST
 BATTLING PROBLEM

UHiSt IUHtt OukS tnC UitSS VI shiS
 Entire Section, Difficult to Solve
 and Much of a Mystery, Even to the
 Experts in Crime.
 With the advent of the fall season come reports from all over New England of increased activity among the "Yegg men, It seems confined to no special area, but is widely predominant. The. Boston Post in seeking a solution has re- gently interviewed number of the most renowned experts in crime that New England has and their views possess strong unanimity.
 t"Ihe reason why there are more thefts in the autumn of the year than at other seasons may be attributed to several causes first because the days are shorter and 1t is easier to rob just after sunset {; second, because theives like to come to the city i'll winter just like other folks {; and third, because they are driven by want to seek shelter and clothing "- Chief William B. Watts, Boston detec- tive bureau
 "There are more yegg breaks at this time of year until Christmas than at any other time. Possibly one might attribute the long series of breaks New England has just had, however, to the work of a travelling gang. Safe breaking is rarely done by local talent, but by number of men who tour all over the country, often in automobiles. Deputy G. O. Neal of Massachusetts State police.
 "The fall is good time of year for the work of certain thieves. It is es- pecially good for the 'seco, story work er He gets a ladder. climbs in at the second story window. and does his work while the family is down at supper. ''- Deputy F. D. Warren of the Boston po- lice
 Thieves are more apt to be busy at the beginning of fall than at other times becanse they are then forced by cold and want to obtain better things. ."-Inspector Gustaf Gustofson of Criminal Bureau.
 Swept by series of yegg breaks and robheries such as have been seldom equalled before and which have stirred score of peaceful towns to intense ex. citement, New Englanl, through it's de- tectiye fOrcesand polite officials has been confronted with new and bafding prob lem-tlat of solving the reason for the wave of crime which with recurring in crease scatters terror everywhere pre- ceding the advent of winter.
 Why the thief becomes suddenly active in his depredations when the fan comes has been an ever recurring source of mystery to the police.
 Experts in crime have tried i'll vain to find a solution for this puzzle, for it. is believed that with such a reason found a remedy could be applied.
 Among the Boston and Massachusetts police officials the theories for this fall crime wave are propounded by the high est officials, but these theories, thus far, have not proven sufficiently convincing to warrant the application of cores bonding remedy.
 To-day all New England is reused over the many breaks that have occurred.
 Pembroke, Groton and Canton in Massachusetts Thetford Centre and North Craftsbury in Vermont Cler- mont, N. H. and Bowdoinham, Me, have all felt the hand of the skilful and willy yeggman during the past fortnight.
 So cleverly are these breaks effected that the criminals are seldom caught. They appear suddenly i'll tine least ex pected places, loot a safe or two and then disappear. They ply their trade in automobiles and make speedy and silent getaways.
 They seem to emerge from retirement in the fall and work in numerous gangs.
 Perhaps the most interesting solution to the question is that set forth by Dep uty Neal of the State police. and sub head of the Massachusetts Detective De- partment, ,who thinks the recent series of of we'll organized gang, which travels over New England for the purpose of breaking the safes of small rural post offices
 These postoffice breaks, though scat tered all through New England, Deputy Neal suggests may have been done by the same crowd "This often happens,
 lContinued on page B.