The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-15
THIEF 4 MYSTERY
"PantS Snatcher" Eludes Detec-
ton by Police and Victims.
mas Successfully Robbed To-
pekans for Many Months.
NO ATTENTION TO JEWELRY
Few "RObbees" Even Take
Trouble To Call Police.
barring, Likable, Carries Gun
and Will Shoot.
NO ATTEHTIOH TO JEWELRY

thief " '''S
Hor months one man in Topeka has
successfully robbed at will and con-
tInees to ply his lone but profitable
etSde at any time or place he chooses.
mysterious, unafraid and up to date
"ith only the most meager descrip-
- ION or MIN in the hands of the police,
Iopekas stellar burglar has struck
terror into the hearts of Topeka house
wives and househoiders
80 door lock seems to bother him.
flther by skeleton key or by a clev-
cry devised instrument of some de-
ScIlptlon ne picks the locks of any
house he wishes to enter.
HIS robberies have run into the
aozens; His salary estimated on a
monthly basis has in the last three
months run far beyond 5000
Always his methods are the same.
Usually he selects a front door, oc-
casionaliy a rear door and once or
twice he has been just an ordinary
burglar going in thru a window.
Not a Ladies' Man.
In the house he is no respecter of
persons. He is rot a ladies' man and
pays TO heed to diamonds, earrings,
.neTerythinG in the form of jewelry.
which will buy him jewelry and at the
Ennne time cannot be identified and
doesn't need to be disposed OF in pawn
shops over which the police keep a
1Tasy eye -a-o
He isn't a cowardIy burglar. He has
gore into strictly male rooming houses
in his search for money
During all these months that he has
operated so successfully in Topeka, no
one has been able 20 get a CLOSE up"
Of him. Whether he is black, white.
rcd or tan is as much a mystery to-
II IL I'M fafr
his activities were first chro1icled.
Fe is solicitouS OF the rest of his
victims. He never relieves, them of
ttEir money in the bedrooms which he
Tia'tts. Instead, he takes the trousers
10 the kitchen or some room where
there is nothing to bother him except
ing the saores of his victims. There
l1e relieves the trousers of their cash
and leaves.
re is taking coGnizance of the
c.tollfse in temperature and perha ps of
tie ernbarra ssment his first activities
CSst upon a pantsless ba chelor. or two,
who av-ol5e in the morning to discover
t.s1t his only covering for the lower
front yard. Nowadays the pants thief
leaves the trousers inside and thus
lelves q moro satisfied customer.
Report 1t to Reporters.
C'opel1a people laughed at first, then
t'ses- heca me apprehensive and clam
UTeI for relief from the police. Now
li-..f Of the burglarics by the pants thief
;t.e, first reported to police headquar-
tors when the. Topeka papers reach
those hea dquarters. Many victims
merely call up the newspaper offices
ard tell the reporters of their misfor-
tuae.
The pants thief is rapidly becoming
q ,opcka institution and Topekans are
becoming accustomed to his activities.
n fact, it became a good joke II a
feIlo-v didn't leave too much in his
tfotIzerz. But this week Topellan re-
fused to feign sleep when the pants
tf'ief vas operating and went down
stairs after him. Then the mysterious
st;-e nger showed, his teeth and fired a
the Victim. escaping, as usual. without
leaving a good description.