The New York herald., 1921-06-13
FIFTH AVENUE HOME
OF VINCENT ASTOR
ROBBED OF JEWELS
Police Kept Secret $4,000
to $4,000 Theft Com
mitted June 4.
CRIME IN AFTERNOON
Sneak Thief Entered by Ser
wants Door and Left by
Main Entrance.
DETECTIVES GET NO CLUE
Criminal Not Seen by Anybody
in Household; Was a
NOiseless Worker.
GET NO CLUE

A sneak thief who evidently had
planned his job long ahead and waited
patiently for the opportunity to work
unmatched, robbed the Fifth avenue
home Of Vincent Astor on June 4, TAX
ing jewclry and other valuables worth
from $4,000 to $4,000. The man en-
tered through the servants door. spent
the afternoon in the upper floors of
the house and then left by the main
entrance and lost himself in the maze
Of traffic on Fifth avenue.
Within a few hours the robbery was
discovered. Detective Frank Dishley
and other members of the squad as
signed for duty at the East Sixty
seventh street station have been
searching the city ever since for the
thief and the jewelry. They have had
no success. The case is in charge Of
Inspector John d. Coughlin, command
ing the detective division. Acting on
instructions from Police Headquar-
ters. the police Of the East Sixty
keep the robbery secret.
Small Pieces Taken.
1t was learned, however, that the
property missing from the house at
$40 Fifth avenue consists mostly Of
small pieces of jewelry. Included are
several watches. 1t is understood that
the thief stole bracelets and rings be-
longing to Mrs. Astor, as well as arti-
cles OF iewelry belonging to r. Peters
said to be cousin OF Mr.. Astor.
From the stories related by servants
II Is assumed that the thief entered the
house some time between and O'Clock
in the afternoon after waiting in the
neighborhood for an opportunity.
The man had selected the servants
entrance as the best for his purpose
because 1t opens on Sixty-fifth street
and Is far enough away from Fifth
avenue TO permit person to enter
| without attracting the notice OF chance
passersby in the thoroughfare. Once in
side the door the man must have taken
advantage OF the absence OF servants
from the hallway. He quickly went to
the stairs and by slow stages and care
full walking and lodging reached the
third floor and the rooms of Mr.. and
Mrs. Astor and Mr.. Peters
Servants. so the police learned. 1t was
said last night. were continuously pass
ing up and down stairs and through the
halls OF the third floor, but none went
to the rooms. The thief continued at
work unseen and unheard, and late in
the afternoon-no one knows at what
time-he walked downstairs TO the main
hall. threw open the front door. and
passed into Fifth avenue. The police
believe he carried the jewelry away in
his pockets.
search by Mr.. Astor.
Early in the evening Mr.. Astor came
home and prepared for an evening en-
gagement. going Immediately to his room
to dress The disappearance OF set
OF shirt studs aroused his suspicious.
with the result that he began a search
Of the rooms and discovered that every
one OF them had been ransacked.
That night Inspector Coughlln was
notified and the long list of stolen arti-
cles was given to the detectives None
OF them has yet been found in the search
OF the pawnshops
The detectives are completely mysti-
fled by tho daring of the thief. He Is
believed to be an uncommonly clever
crook. He left no finger prints In the
Astor home, so far as could be learned.
Since the detectives began 20 work on
the mystery they have questioned many
OF the Astor servants as TO whether any
OF them ever noticed strange man loi-
tering near the house. IL Is believed
possible that the thief did his watching
from Central Park and that he never
permitted himself to be seen by the AS
tor employees.
Mr.. Astor could not be reached last
night. Servants at the house said he and
Mrs. Astor were out OF town.