The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-27
BOdeker Comments on the
 Cause of Trouble
CARELESSNESS SHOWN
Patrolman's Report Showed Eleven Downtown Business Houses Which Were Found Unlocked on
 Friday Night
ny WILLIAM J. zBINpEN

By WILLIAM J. zBINDEN
 And yet they ask. how were we robbed?'' The foregoing is character lstic explanation of members of the po- lice force when proprietors of stores in the downtown district make a kick to Commissioner of Public Justice A. o. Lane about the negligence of pstrolmen the following morning after their store has been entered and robbed.
 The cause for such an exclamation is evident on every report that Sergeant Donelson hands to Chief Bodeker. The report made out yesterday morning and placed on file began with the following lines:
 o'clock.
 No. 11o North Seventeenth street, open at 1:30 o'clock.
 No 212s Third avenue, open at 11:4O o'clock
 No. I'll Fourth avenue. open at 12:3o o'clock
 No. 1729 Second avenue. open at 12:s5 o'clock
 No 2c11 Norris avenue, open s, 10 o'clock
 No 2127 Third avenue open at 11:4O o'clock
 No 112 North Eighteenth street, open at 1i:50 o'clock
 No. 21o and 22s North Twenty first street, open at 1915 o'clock.
 No. 430 South Twentieth street, open at 12:50 o'clock
 No. 108 North Eighteenth street, open Tt 1920 o'clock.
 The above is the list of eleven busl- ness places in the central business dib- | tricts which patrolman on the morning shift reported as having the front door open or unlocked at the above hour. A particular case is that of the jew elry store at 2010 Third avenue. The front show window in this house was smashed by an unknown white man at | 5:10 o'clock Friday morning. Officer Ray, on the Third avenue beat, hear ing the smash, ran toward the sound and shot at the man he was running away The following day the owners neglected to close up this space, save by two boards placed in front, and not even nailed securely, and leaving hole large enough for mans body open. This same store yesterday morning re- ported to the police station that they had been robbed of several pieces of cut glass from LhlS window.
 When asked by a reporter yesterday afternoon to make some sort of state ment concerning this situation, Chief of Police Bodeker said: Relative to that subject. I would like to say few things. There is no doubt in my mind that great many of the burglaries and robberies recently reported at head quarters have been due solely to the utter carelessness of the business houses, their owners or employees, In leaving their front doors and windows unlocked and even open. The average patrolman on the morning shift is obliged to cover a distance of three blocks on street, three blocks on the nearest alley and the intervening space on the avenues which intersect his street. It is readily seen then that Q place where the door has been left un- locked or window raised, inviting bur glars to enter. is in dangerous condi- ton.
 The patrolman cannot spend his entire time in watching such places after he has discovered the neglect, but must continue on his beat, though, of course. exercs- ing special caution at such points.
 The merchants and business men in the downtown district would be doing not only a deal of courtesy and exercising thoughtfulness for the department and the lfulNluual pdlTOlHen Dy seeing VTlat tne1r houses are tightly closed for the night. but would place themselves in a more se- cure condition to be protected from rob berries, and save themselves the loss in- curing therefrom'
 Another matter which caused consider able complaint from the patrolmen to Chief Bodeker was also brought out in the chiefs interview yesterday. After realis- ing the smallness of the force, and the lar orth nf ha ra 1p,a t1'c l.a a good thing if the merchants would all low the patrolmen on their respective beats the permission to burn lights in the front show windows or just inside the front doors
 For instance. to illustrate the good that this would do. Patrolman Ray on Third avenue, after having covered his beat and tried all the doors on the streets avenues and alleys. will probably take his stand for an hour at the intersec- tion of Twentieth street and Third ave- nue. From this point he will endeavor to keep e watch up Third avenue in both directions. Suppose a man passes under the street lamp at Twentiey-first street and Third avenue and starts down the avenue. If there are no lights. this same man may step under cover of the dark ness, take a glass cutter from his pocket, cut glass; knock the piece out and take something from the window, and all In the short time of couple of min utes He can then put his hands fin his pockets. walk down the street, pass the officer and get away scot free. and MT. Ray may not discover the break in the glass until he walks up to Twenty first street.
 If the merchants would burn their front lights this danger would be prac- ticaily eliminated. as the patrolman on his beat from corner can keep a watch on all late pedestrians as they pass un- der tho light.
 considering tine conditions that at present prevail in this city, and its finan- cial endorsements, such cooperation from the citizens would be greatly appre- ciated by the police force. and In the end repay the merchants for the small cost to which they have been put"
 ANNOUNCEMENT.
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