The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-07
BIRMINGHAM IS INFESTED WITH PETTY BURGLARS Jewelry Thieves and Sec ond Story" Men Hard
 at Work CLAIMED LAST WEEK
 WORST IN YEARS Four Exceptionally Bold Cases Re- ported To Police Yesterday
 Morning, All Being on
 the Southside

Jewelry thieves and second stoIs men have for the past week terrorized the North and South Highland sections of Birmingham. The records of the police at headquarters show that the number of robberies and petty thefts reported since one week ago today have exceeded that of any week in recent years. The suburbs arc practically at the mercy of the burglars. 1t Is alleged, as both the north and south sides of the city are polieed by only four scouts, who have an area of three square miles to cover in each round on wheels.
 During the last three days and nights, the robbers have confined themselves entirely to stealing jewelry. Four such cases were reported at police headquar- ters yesterday morning, all being on tho Southside.
 The home of Jerome OFerrell, 911 South Twentieth street, was entered by a burglar about 1 o'clock yesterday morning aud a gold watch taken. A striking feature of this robbery was that in the room where the watch was stolen were several valuable papers and documents, some silver articles and several articles of clothing. all worth the attention of the burglar. None of these articles were molested, making the police believe that the burglar was Il professional or at least experienced in his business The man had effected his entrance through front window at the side of the house. It had becen heartily pried open wit Ina jimmy and closed after taking his departure
 Loots Boarding House
 A boarding house at 1212 south tTwentieth street was also visited by burglars about 1 o'clock yesterday morning. This residence is a large two story dwelling and every room up stairs is given over to boarders, all of whom are positive that they heard no one on that floor. Two men rooming at this place, J. W Agee and w. A. 1 Beddard, both of whom have rooms at the front of the house upstairs, were victims of the early morning visitor. This robber was evidently a second story man, having climbed up by one of the posts on the front porch. He also must have left his shoes on the ground as the yard in front of the porch was very damp and his shoes would have made tracks upstairs. and there were none. A window in the front of MT. Agee's room had been pried openeds From Agee's room he had crossed hall and picked the lock to Beddard's room and entered.
 diamond ring, gold wedding ring, solid gold bracelet. and a gold watch were taken from Mir Agec's room, and Beddard had stolen from him a brooch set with four pearls, with diamond in the center gold watch with chain attached. The value of the stolen ar tleles at this place amounted to ap- proximately $500
 Starnes' Home Robbed
 II. N Starnes. 1019 South Seventeenth street. was another victim and probably the heaviest loser. In this case the burglar entered through a window at | the side of the house and got into the dining room first. From there he went into Mrs. Starnes' room, picking several articles from the dresser top, where | they lay unhidden. He then picked the lock of the door leading into the daugh- | ter's room across the hall. In this room he broke open jewelry box which was | in one of the drawers of a dressing | table and took several articles of value. The list of stolen properties which Mir. starnes gave the police yesterday morning contained the following ar ticles: one gold watch one ladies gold blue enameled watch. one pair Of gold eye glasses. one oblong gold locket set with pearls, and one gold ring with q setting of pearls and turquoise. The total value was estimated by MT. Starnes at $400.
 l MT. Starnes says that he later heard the burglar go out the front door, care | fully closing 1t after him. At the time | he did not know what 1t meant, but immediately investigated. It was then too late to catch the man, but police headquarters were notified immediately. 1 All day yesterday and last evening no trace was found of any of the night visitors.
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