The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-21
Robber Crews Use Racing
Automobiles and Are Di-
rected by Single OAR
ing Leader.
TAKE FINE OLD STOCK
Investigator for One Company
Says Stolen Goods Are Adj
vertised for Sale in
Apartments.

Roober bands in racing motor cars
raiding temporarily unoccupied coun-
try houses in Long Island and New
Jersey under the direction of a master
crook hidden in Manhattan have cost
the burglary indemnity companies at
least 100000 in the last two years.
The loss to individuals not Unidentified
cannot accurately be estimated. but
Is figured roughly at another S3,000,000.
Prohibition figures curiously as a
recent incentive TO automobile ban
ditry. An analysis made yesterday by
an executive of the Globe Indemnity
Company suggests that many of the
raids have been aimed at the amply
stocked cellars of the well to do. Old
bonded whiskey and champagne are
as attractive to thieves as table silver
used to be, and is great deal easier
to dispose ONO questions asked.
Reports filed by burglary inyestigat-
ors OF the big indemnity concerns men
ton the footing of wine cellars of hun
dreds Of thousands of dollars worth Of
fine quality booze. and there Is no doubt
that prohibition has given another OPP
portunity TO country house burglars.
Formerly they struck for jewelry, gold
and silver plate, paintings and objects
OF similar value. Now they go after the
costly liquors OF the old days while not
neglecting their former objects.
sour investigation points to a syste-
matically organized ring of motor car
bandits" $. II. Foster. chief investi-
gator for the Globe concern. said yes
terday, AT the head OF this organixa-
ton is a master thief. who collects use
full information from large number of
spies and agents and then issues precise
directions to squads of armed raiders
that travel in groups of four or five in
the fastest cars obtainable.
The master crook, who makes his
headquarters In Manhattan, runs a ga
rage as a blind. He poses as n re-
spectacle business man. but we believe
that he plans and issues orders TO a
chain Of suburban thieves that operate
from Boston to Atlantic City We have
not been able, nor have the regular
police. to get enough evidence against
this man to warrant arresting him, but
we feel sure OF the facts as stated He
Is remarkably intelligent and he is GER
tainly shrewdly served by an army of
spies
When well-to-do folk with fine
houses In the country, Long Island Jer-
eey or Connecticut go 10 Europe or
ABANDON their country places for a stav
IN the city or a trip to California the
master crook makes it his business TO
know about IL. He keeps tab on the
movements of the rich.~- He works ont
the details of his campaigns against
society with the care that military Of
ticer employs TO map the operations
ne expects to take against an enemv
When he reads that Mr.. and Mrs 60
and So have gone to Europe for tbe
summer he goes TO work along This
line. 'Ais
moving squad Sent out.
he sends out "A party of scouts IN
inspect and study the temporarily nm
occupied house. Often the car thew use
Is stolen Tor the purpose and Abandoned
zreer tne scouting expedition is finished.
1ney carry charts and carefully mark
down the location of deserted nsnsions
together with other information useful
70 tne chief. A day or two later thew
get tneir orders, make a night raid and
usually have little difficulty In eett,n1
away with carload or two of rugs
booze. Vi
When the master thief has no pre-
else Information as to where tho owners
OF desirable places may be. the scouts
ma out for him, and after several sucb
trips are able 10 tell whether a raid Is
safe. "'o 10
These raiding bands are selected
with great care. The chauffeur is an
expert There is always a good safe
cracker IN the company. for often
hno"iedge OF opening safes either by
itne touch system or with 'soup" Is re-
CURED And every party has its naIr
OF gunner. Our experience COOS 10
snow that the master thief has little
use Tor women in this big business en-
terprise-maybe because he figures thew
talk too much.
Remaining carefully under cover. he
rents through his agents in town apart
menus 20 which the loot is taken. There
upon advertisements are published stat
ing That Mr.. John Doe about to leave
the city, must dispose OF his apartment.
FURNITURE and bric-a-brac az "a loss and
ASKING Tor callers 10 inspect the goods
and make an offer II looks straight
enough. but In many cases II Is merely
tho disposal of stolen goods. Crooked
'e"acAc hiiDW lniN. not many individ-
uals DO. Lots OF innocent people get
good bargains doubtless. but they would
be Mortified 70 know the history OF the
stun they have bought.
burglary ON Commission.
THE system Is that the ring NAYS n
liberal commission 10 each band OF
thieves That is 10 say. the raiders viii
get from $50 to 800 apiece for.pulllng
on Job that may be worth $4,000 or
$4,000 70 the chief Doubtless they are
financed and protected when they get IN
trouble.
Rich hauls from these Long Island
ana Jersey country homes are COM
moner than the newspaper reader would
suppose, for In many cases the robbery
Is kept secret---Ittle good TO be ex-
pected from publicity. That Is why the
annual total Of such iootings reaches
staggering figure One indemnity com
pany that could mention has had TO
pay within a comparatively short period
claims amounting to more than $780,
900. only a short time ago a gang OF