Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-09
WATCH OUT HOLIDAY
THIEVES, WARNS Chief
Col. Hutchison Gives Tips on Pro-
teeting Property at Home
and While Shopping

Warnings to residents of Harrisburg
to be cautious during the holiday
preparations came from Colonel Jo-
seph B. Hutchison to-day.
This is the one time of the year
when thieves get busy" said the
Colonel. Strong barriers for DOORS
windows and cellar doors will not go
amiss."
After citing numerous ways the
thieves work during the holiday sea-
son, Colonel Hutchison suggested that
1t would be good thing for residents
to report robberies promptly, and to
note carefully the description of any
strangers found lurking about the
yards. AS protection for the people
Colonel Hutchison made the following
suggestions:
On leaving your home see that rear
doors and windows as we'll as the
front entrances are properly secured
When you retire for the night repeat
this duty.
Don't place a card on your door
or window announcing the time of
your return; thieves may not have
time to wait for you.
Don't carry your handbag by the
chain or strap, but loop the chain or
strap around your wrist and keep
your hand over the clasp which opens
the bag.
Don't place your handbag or purse
on a store counter; it might not be
there when you look for it. Keep it
in your hand or under your arm while
in stores.
Don't enter crowds in the street or
III stores; pickpockets like crowds.
Don't wear valuable jewelry when
shopping.
Don't carry more money than you
believe you will need and don't make
a display of the money you have.
Don't purchase jewelry in the
street, no matter how much of a bar
gain it appears to be.
Don't fail to count the change given
you and don't fail to be on the look
out for counterfeit money when re-
ceiving change.
Don't leave your automobile or car
riage in the street without caretaker
who is known to you, and don't leave
any article of value in the vehicle
while you are absent
Don't pay for G. o. d. parcels until
you have examined the contents and
found that the goods haYe been or
dered by you.
Don't leave a messenger alone in a
room where he has delivered goods
while you go to another part of the
house; let him walt in the vestibule.
Don't deliver goods which have been
calls and claims that a mistake was
made in the delivery, unless you first
telephone the store and have the story
verified
Don't have goods purchased by you
delivered in care of others; order them
delivered to you in your home.
Don't pay any attention to persons
who claim they found your pocket
book, unless you are sure you lost 1t,
and don't give them a chance to steal
your pocketbook when you open your
bag to look for it.
Don't permit your messengers to
deliver packages in the street to per-
sons who claim the goods are for
them, and don't permit them to de-
liver any packages at houses which
are apparently vacant.
Don't make change for any one un-
til you secure possession of the note
or coin to be changed. ?
Don't deli5er goods to express
agents or messengers until you make
positive that they are the persons
they represent themselves to be-
Don't permit your delivery wagon
to remain unguarded in. the street.
If you are a man, don't carry your
pocketbook or wallet in your hip
pocket; carry it in the inside pocket
of your vest.
Don't allow any one to place a
newspaper close to your face in a
public conveyance or elsewhere; such
person is after your watch and
chain or scarf pin. Look out for per-
sons who jostle you on platforms of
street or railway cars; they are after
your money.