New-York tribune., 1920-02-08
s45,OOO,OOO
In Rail Thefts
During 1919
Merchandise Stolen Double
That of Pre-War Period,
With Wholesale Looting
Of Cars ON Increase
Master Robbers at Work
"Widespread International
Organization'' Suspected;
Goods Taken in Transit

Wholesale looting of merchandise in
.ransit upon the railroads Of the
United States caused loss Of ap-
proximately s45.00o,000 in 1919, ac-
eording to United States Railroad Ad-
ministration statistics.
This is estimated to be more than
double the losses in any pre-war yesr,
Int it is pointed out that She increased
,osts of the commodities stolen. which
ara estimated roughly to average S5
per cent must be taken into considera-
son when comparing the losses sas-
tsined in the days of low prices with
those OF to-day. Nevertheless. there
has been a steadily increasing number
Of packages stolen, and the organiza-
items combating the thieves have been
called to meet an increased ingenuity
exercised in diverting goods from eheir
owners.
A technique of robbery has been de-
yeloped so highly tn 4 the methods of
smsster thieves" Al ) similar in. the
United States, England, France, Italy
and Argentina, according to recent
report of the United States Chamber
Of Commerce in Argentina. Thief
hunters here, however. are inclined to
d;seredit that organizations belief that
8 widespread international organiza-
ton is at work stealing merchandise.
Methods Used in Robbery
Substitution is the usual method
used by the robbers. Sometimes boxes
supposed to contain velvets are found
1t their destination to be filled with
calico or other cheaper grades of cloth,
but as rule waste paper is found.
The silk industry has been one of
the most severely hit in the last year.
ard so great has the risk become that
the Railroad Administration has been
considering excluding raw silks from
the privilege Of freight transportation
BY rail. The Merchants Association
Of New York, through its traffic bu-
reau has protested against such an ex-
elusion. advocating some less radical
change to minimize or prevent the
theft Of silk in transit.
The statement of the silk men that
raw silks have contributed largely to
the revenues of the carriers is met
with the statement from railroad men
that paying for the losses has swept
out such profits, and that silk, because
ef its great value, seemed to be grow
ing more attractive than ever to
thieves.
The jewelers., who have always been
looked upon as easy prey by thieves,
Jared better last year by approximately
10 per cent than in the previous year,
it was said at the jewelers. Protective
Union.
Forgery Helps Thieves
Among the methods frequently used
by thieves are the following:
A fruCkyr of froirhx CT Vr,i+h
a load of goods watches his oppor-
tunity and takes the freight clerks re-
eeivng stamp, puts it on the bill of
iading and then drives off with the
goods, which he sells. He has a prop
,rly receipted bill of lading from the
railroad to show his employer. Forger-
les Of the receiving stamp are some
times used.
Another method is for a truckman to
dhve into city freight yard with an
empty box on his truck. The gateman
takes record of the truck and its
load and when it leaves extra pack
ages must be accounted for. But the
truckman in this instance substitutes
box of stolen merchandise for the
empty one he brought in; or he may
have bottomless box, which he places
over smaller package containing
stolen goods.
Robbers often get aboard trains and
throw goods out for confederates to
pick up along the route. Motor truck
drivers have been caught taking part
in this scheme in this city, Chicago, st.
Louis and Kansas City recently.
Railroad men complain of the diff
Guilty in getting convictions. The Fed
eral law provides for penalty Of
$1,000 or year in Jail for breaking
car seals, but there have been SO many
cases that the Federal courts have set
them aside for business considered
more important. Often these cases go
to minor courts and even police courts,
which, the thief hunters says, are often
too lenent