New-York tribune., 1919-10-29
Loft Thieves, Risking Death
TO Avoid Alarms, Make
Way from Tenth Floor
Fire Escape to Window
Cut Way TO $4,000
Saving Hole in Floor, They
Drag Cases of Furs
Through Cellar to Auto

Loft thieves, displaying the agility
of acrobats, swung themselves from
the tenth story fire escape of the
building at 158 West Twenty seventh
Street to the loft of the Daily Waist
Company on the ninth floor and
escaped with georgette crepe valued at
$4,000. To avoid burglar alarms on
windows, the robbers were forced to
risk death in reaching an unprotected
window ten feet away. They carried
their bulky loot to a waiting motor
truck in Seventh Avenue near the
Pennsylvania Station. Thus far the
police have made no arrests.
This robbery is only ono in series
in the West Side business section in
the last week that havu netted $4,000.
[. J. Storch, president of the Daily
Waist Company, said yesterday the
georgette was stolen last Wednesday
night. He pointed to the window
where the thieves had entered the loft
and said he could not understand how
they could have carried 200 rolls of
goods down the fire escape without at
tracing attention Of the police. Mr..
Storch said a neighbor saw the men
going down the fire escape with their
police in time to prevent the escape
Of the thieves.
Robbers Cut Way to Furs
On the same night robbers cut their
way through the floor of the fur es-
tabiishment OF Backhaut & Richter
at 1874 West Thirty first Street, and
stole beavers and seal valued at S10,-
600. They dragged the cases contain
ing the furs to n hole they had cut in
the floor and pushed them into the cell
lar. The manager Of the place said
yesterday an automobile was used to
take away the furs.
1t is believed the same band broke
into the loft of ithe American Costume
Street, and escaped with women's cos
tunes valued at $4,000. The police
told j. Landow, president of the com
pany, not to talk with reporters con-
corning the robbery.
George W. Newcomhe, of 140 West
105th Street, while returning home
from the Night Court early yesterday,
where he went to give bail for q pris-
oner. was held up and robbed of 5000
IN the vestibule of his hose when
Two robbers thrust revolvers in his
lace and demanded his money.
Robbers Escape in Automobile
The victim pleaded with the men not
TO rob him, and explained he was in
the bonding business and had often
aided men of their kind. but the rob-
capped in an automobile, according to
Mr.. Newcombe. The police of the
Tooth Street station have made no ar
rests in the case
Five Surprised on Fire Escape
Early yesterday detectives arrested
five men they discovered on fire
escape five stories above the street in
The business section OF Brownsville.
Detective Sergeants Beck and DON
nelly, of the Brownsville station, had
obtained information that robbers con-
tempiated breaking into the building
at 447 Blake Avenue. The detectives
approached the building soon after
midnight and found the five men try
ing to pry open doors and windows
from the fire escape. The detectives
worked their way up the fire escape
When the five men saw the detective :
they fled in all directions. IN despe-
ration, Louis Gordon, who said he
lived at 1888 Hinsdale Street, plunged
from the fire escape 70 the street. lie
was only slightly hurt
Joseph Goldman, of S3 Sheriff
Street, Manhattan, was captured on
he fire escape. Meanwhile the othc,
three men had fed to an AUTOMOBILES
which they started down Blake Ave
nue, with the police in pursuit in an
other machine. About thirty shots
~'ere fired before the fleeing automo.
bile was brought to standstill anc
the men surrendered They gave
their names as Louis Katz, 100 Nor
folk Street, Manhattan Joseph Gold
stein. no home, and Samuel Fogelson
'i6 East l1Sth Street. Manhattan The
prisoners were arraigned befor.
Magistrate McClusky in the New Jcr
sey. Avenue Court and held in 81, 500
bail each for a hearing on Novem.
Der 8.