Omaha daily bee., 1920-03-07
SYSTEMATIC
ROBBERY OF.
SHIPS CARGO
is REVEALED
International Organization of
Thieves Steal Merchandise
From Mercantile Vessels.
us. Chamber Finds.

Buenos Aires, March o.--Belief
that widespread international or
ganizatioB is at work stealing mer-
chaudise from steamships is ex-
pressed in report Of the United
States Chamber of Commerce in
Argentina. The chamber investi-
gated the loss of valuable mer-
chandise by pi!fering from ships ply
ing to this port and found that the
same characteristics are visible in
thefts of merchandise from Italy.
Spain and England as from the
United States"
The investigation was made at the
request of the Allied Chambers OF
Commerce, which asked all the
mmbers to make similar investiga-
tons.
"The increase in pilfering during
the past few months had been alarm
ing" says the reporr. "An effort
was made to deduce from the evil
dence received the value of the,
goods stolen, but this was impossi-
Bile although in general terms it
would seem to run into hundreds of
thousands of dollars in gold.
Parcels Post Looted.
Gone curious feature developed
which was that pilfering occurs with
frequency in articles sent by par
cells post. for which there is no re-
course if no value has been de-
clared.
"The thefts have alf the charac-
tcristics of systematized robbery
by people who know the merchar-
disc and also know the peculiarities
of the shippers. II would seem,
moreover, that widespread interna-
tional organization was at work for
the same characteristics are visible
in thefts of merchandise from Italy,
France, Spain and England as from
the United States.
"One house imported lot of 80
automobiles. 1t is the custom of
this factory to pack the set of tools
in ~ae special corner of the case.
A hole was cut into this particular
corner of % cases and the tool sets
were removed Apparently the
thieves knew exactly where to look
| for the articles they desired.
! Cases Emptied and Refilled.
"Another house which imports dry
| goods found that zinc-lined cases
had been opened, the silk contents
removed and an equal weight of coal
put into the cases, which were nailed
up. Another house which also i'm
ports dry goods had several cases
of silk velvet completely refilled and
in the cases were found cotton goods
of an inferior quality. Each of these
cases involved losses amounting to
nearly $4,000 gold.
"One exporter of silk, from
Europe. with the idea of deceiving
the thieves changed his form of
packing and also his shipping marks,
| but the thieves went direct to the
packages and rifled them as though
they knew beforehand what they
contained
| Two separate shipments, each con-
tanning 10000 sewing machine
needles. were stolen, the empty
boxes arriving in Buenos Aires. al
though in this case the shippers have
absolute knowledge that the mer-
chandise was loaded on the steamer
| in proper condition in New York.
"The opinion of responsible mari
time insurance agents and adjusters
who are in close touch with the Sit
uation is that the only remedy is
for the steamship companies to re-
lassume responsibility for pilfering
and in case they are unwilling TO do
SO governmental pressure should be
brought to bear to compel them to
eliminate this clause"