Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-25
NEW USE FOR THE MOVIES"
Criminals Find Cinema Picture Very
Convenient.

Stop thief. Stop theft
As the man came running down the
street about 100 Yards ahead of the
crowd, a big determined looking navy
stepped forward and gripped him
firmly
That's right" gasped the almost
breathless runner Jerk me aslde--we
are doing this for a cinema picture"
His captor. with a laugh at once re-
leased his hold, and the man, darting
swiftly round the yorner. continued his
fight and disappeared. He was a real
thief, This incident occurred recently.
II seems that a woman had been look
ing ia n shop window in the Finchley
road, London, when a man snatched
her handbag and bolted. Though a hue
and cry was raised at once the escaped
by the ingenious ruse related above.
1t is more than probable that he OBJ
tanned his idea from a recent him
which actually showed this very incl
dent on the screen. And he is not the
first criminal who has called in the aid
Of the cinema.
Last December q gang of thieves
robbed banker in Paris of $4,000 worth
Of valuables in. an exceedingly clever
his family, and the Constable on duty
near his house was accosted by 10 Well
dressed men who produced n letter
stating that they had permission to
make cinema film at the bankers
house. and requested the police to keep
the public out of the way CT the actors.
One of the strangers placed a cinema
machine in position and vigorously
turned the handle while the DINERS
reared q ladder against the wall, broke
u window and entered the house. sew
eral of the men, dressed as policemen,
pretended to hide themselves around
the corner in order to surprise the sup
posed burglars when they emerged.
When the actors" taking the part
of burglars appeared with sacks on
their shoulders and were seized py the
factors, dressed as policemen the real
policemen watching were sreatly
amused. They laughed still more wheh
thov -ead IN the evening papers an ae-
count of the bankers house having
been burgled. They thought the report
was a Joke on the part of one Oh ,he
orlookers It was not till the banker
returned that it was discovered that
the cinema thieves were real.
Early in 1?11 film was taken SHOW
ing burglar at goldsmith shol III
crodon. The film was exhipiteo an"
very shortly after the shop was prok-
or into the thieves getting away VIII
G 600 worth of gold ornaments lhes
had watched the film, noted the az
raneement of the interior OF the shop,
and using this information, carrieos
a,it their burglary successfully.
since then tradesmen have peeh en-
.ramelv chary in allowing their shope
or houses TO be used for moving PIC.
t,res. One film showing the roppery Vi
a hank-safe. had to be Withdrawn 40,
the safe was actually robbed seNeiai
,;,,ae in a few months. Now IL d.
h.nl, robbery is shown ON the screen
~ v,ictures are taken in such a way
,hat no important details OF a SAFE
construction or protection Tor ooois
- ca on are allowed to appear.
I,,st wear there was a great-ahu
.,,stiea ble--outcry against the way
crinc was shown at picture palaces III
;, x,erv few DAYS a number of cases oc
a,,rrad where boys and young men
80 arrested for crimes which they
oon;ed from scenes on the screens. one
boy at sutton SaNe = No. t1.4 LIZA
count of two men who hao s.t's'0NNeu
him. and the entire metropol,an po-
lice force were kept busy searchihs ioi
them. ,;,.
He went thoroughly into oe,eAis.
One nan he said was about 80 years .,
age and wore a morning coat e''u
dark trousers. The other was apou'
o5. and he further stated that potii iiien
800 - f,ta OF
wore false boards. The descrlptioht "
the men was circulated throusnou.
the police station and it was not uhtl.
ii transpired that the description OIL
the two men Tailed exactly WITH TWO
actors in a recent moving picture 'hat
the police realized that the attack was
cinemaginative one Pearsohs
Weekly.