Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-03-20
BURGLARY IS
NOW RAMPANT
IN THIS CITY
Thieves, Showing Utter Disre-
gard for Police, Are Ter
roTizing HousehoIders.
EPIDEMIC OF PLUMBER
NEVER WAS AS BAD HERE
Highwaymen Are Also Plying
Trade and One Death
Has Resulted.

Newark Is in the throes OF bur-
glary epidemic, which has exceeded
anything Of similar nature that has
sripped the city for years, and the
authorities don't appear to be able to
get rid of 1t. Practically every cit
zen OF the city is in state of fear
lest he or she should be the
next victim, and 1t has gotten
to be the rule when people are out
for an evening to look around their
house or apartments upon their
return to see whether "Mr. Raf-
fies' has paid them a visit. Also
upon awaking In the morning an in
spectfon is made to determine II all
the goods which they had the night
before upon retiring are still in their
possession. No arrests of any i'm
portance have been made by the po-
lice, and starting with robbery the
terror has spread to attacks by high
waymen, which in one instance has
resulted in q. death.
Already the people are beginning
to ask, what is to be the remedy for
the affliction? The police say that
forts to check the epidemic, yet their
efforts apparently are futile. The bur-
glars are getting to a point where
they have shown boldness that Is
an almost entire disregard for the
police. Different sections Of the city
are visited and the inrruders to all in
dications stay in section until they
have Cleaned 1t OUT despite police
activity.
Tires Eoi,bories Last Might.
Three robberies were added last
night to the long list. The tailoring
shop of John Ford, at e72 Broad
street, was entered. but the proprie-
tor was unable to find today that
anything had been stolen. The store
is on the second floor and the thief
jimmied" a door leading from the
hall.
Jewelry valued at s117 was taken
last night from the home OF Ciriattp
Geniario. at 123 Mount Prospect ave-
nue.. Entrance to the house was af-
fected by means of q skeleton key.
A key thief visited the home of Isaac
I. Mills, at 5S South Thirteenth
street. Jewelry valued at $50 was
stolen from the apartment.
Youle. F'razee, of 43 Upper Mont
clair avenue, Montclair reported to
the police that his automobile was
stolen from in front of 1872 Quitman
street.
The thieves have taken .'long
chances" in many of the "jobs,' and
on more than one occasion have had
close encounters with their victims
or with police detectives. One of
them, in particular, has had enough
lead fired at him to frighten the most
determined burglar into becoming a
l3w-abiding citizen.
he present burglary raids were
first started In the Forest Hill Sec
ton abost three months ago, and a
large sum IN plunder was secured
from many houses in that part OF
the city. Police detectives were de-
tailed to duty In that section, but
although they were once near enough
to their quarry to capture hat, they
were unable to land any of the mis-
creants. This burglar often visited
a hat stcre in the neighborhood, pur-
chased a new hat and returned to
his depredations. A good description
was gotten from the hat dealer but
IL apparently didn't aid in his cap
ture.
The thieves next shifted their at
tention TO the Clinton Hill section.
One of them, who, the police say,
runs like q deer and climbs fences
like cat" twice in a single night
escaped detectives who were within
a few feet of him, and outdistanced
them in a running and fence-climb-
ing race.
''NIum" Order One Police Remedy.
It is this culprit who was blamed
for the recent mum order of the
Board of Police Commissioners,
which was in effect for nearly a
week. A newspaper article, stating
that extra men had been detailed to
look for him, was published. The
Police Board accused the newspapers
of informing the thief that he was
the object Of police search. and
forbid police officers to discuss po-
lice business with reporters.
Far from being apologetic for
being the cause of this hardship, the
miscreant one night landed a punch
on the jaw of a newspaper reporter
who stood In his way when he was
fleeing from a detective. II the
newspaper article warned him to be
on his guard against the police he
I'D not show any great appreciation.
Series of burglaries in Roseville
and in other residential sections fol-
lowed. Several of the thefts have
ner. In the burglary OF the home OF
Robert v. Gibson, at 556 Ridge
street. Wednesday night, the thieves
worked on for some time after they
knew that they had been discovered,
allowing just enough time to escape
before the arrival Of the police.
Daylight Depredations, Too
The robberies show a careful prep
aration and a knowledge gained OF
the habits of the families who are
made victims. They are usually
pulled off, when members Of the
family are out. Entrance to the
houses has been effected in various
ways. but most frequently by fore
ing q window in the cellar, in the
rear of the house, or one opening on
a second-story porch. An instance
of a daylight robbery was that at
the apartment of Edward Belts, of
1863 Ridgewood avenue, which was
entered Thursday afternoon while
Mrs. Belts was out shopping, and
jewelry valued at 5000 taken. These
thieves are supposed to have gdtten
out only when Cecil Belts returned
from high school.
The fact that practically none or
the robberies has been cleared up
by arrests lends credence to the be-
lief that they are the operations OF
a single gang. The police are de-
cIared to be keeping up their Wig
iiance nd are expecting that sooner
a \