The sun., 1919-04-18
so PER CENT. GAIN
IN BURGLARIES HERE
Insurance Companies Figures
Controvert Enrights Sooth-
ing Letter to Mayor.
RATES LIKELY TO RISE
Adjuster Says Situation Is
Worst City Ever Saw
Motor Thefts Alarm.

Mayor Hylan wrote q letter April IL
to Police Commissioner Enright In
which he charged that the newspapers
were publishing inaccurate statements
with regard to the number of burglaries
in the Greater City. The Mayors letter
was in reply TO one from the Commits
sioner In which Enright was quoted by
fewer burglaries in January. February
and March last than in the same period
in previous years.
Figures supplied to THE Sun yester-
day from burglary insurance companies
are in sharp contrast with the state
ments of the Police Commissioner. These
Of course cover only such burgiaries
whose victims are covered by insurance,
but q compilation Of the figures avail
able, representing at least a third Of
the burglary insurance written in the
city, indicates an increase Of nearly so
per cent in the number OF claims for
losses that will be paid in 1919. as
against the same figures for 1918.
Worst in January.
One Of the largest companies doing
business In the city already has settled
210 claims for the months Of January.
February and March Of this year. as
against SGT claims for the entire year
Of 1918. The records OF this particular
company showed January to be the
worst month. with eighty claims; Febru-
airy showed seventy-two and March
fifty-eight
approximately four-ffths of the burg
larry insurance written by companies
represented in New York involves New
York city property. That estimate was
made for THE Sun yesterday by an ex-
ecutive official OF ono Of the largest
and best known companies, and was
volunteered as an indication OF the situa-
ton in New York city. In the pre-
war period OF four months ending Febru-
airy 2s. 1914, this company paid out
$42,413 on a total of 274 claims for
losses. In the four months ending Febru-
ruary 2s, 1919. the same company paid
out s1e1.S27 for AL claims.
Mayor Hylan's letter to Commissioner
Enright was written on a day when
the merca ntile committee Of the Burg
larry Insurance Underwriters Associa-
ton was meeting in Baltimore to con-
slider ways and means to meet the situa-
tion that all agreed had its most definite
reflection in New York city. A survey
covering conditions in regard to depreda-
lions in private houses, apartments
offices developed two features. namely
growing boldness on the part Of the
criminals and a responding failure
on the part of the police authorities tC
cone with the situation.
f. 3. Anderson. secretary OF thu
Burglary Insurance Underwriters Asso
citation. said yesterday: Losses are In.
creasing and unless some means are de
vised to check them the situation Imay
~ 49,.
out quite conclusively that burglariet
| and thefts, az well as the amount O
the loot gathered in. are increasing"
Few Automobiles Recovered.
E B. Hopwood. 55 John street, an ad
Juster. who represents a score or NOR
OF companies writing automobile insur
ance. said yesterday that the situation
for the first three months Of the curren
year was worse than II had ever been
Three months ago. Mr.. Hopwood said
the automobile insurance companies at
meeting agreed to offer rewards for tn
return Of stolen cars. Since then tn
number Of cars returned has gone up
but only in about direct proportion to tn
number OF thefts reported.
| Despite the fact that the Police De
partment has ten men working on stolel
automobiles. where there used only Il
be two. the figures continue to mount,
Mr.. Hopwood said, land the Indication
are that 1919 is going to be the wors
year yet for stolen cars"
| A feature Of the automobile situation
that causes concern Is the number o
uncovered cars. II was pointed on
yesterday that in 1918 approximately 81
per cent of the cars reported stolen wer
finally recovered more or less undam
aged. Joy riding parties. where the pur
pose was no worse than to borrow
car for few hours and leave 1t som
place where It would eventually be re
| turned TO its owner. accounted for abou
half the cases reported. This Is NJ