New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-10
Thieves
Boast Selves
Into Jail Cells
Taunts Flung at Detectives
Result in the Apprehen-
sion of Gang Trying a
Safe Burglary Encore
100000 Stock Saved
Unflagging Watch Outside
Loft Building Rewarded
With Trio of Captives

Burglars who had defed the police
to catch them, naming the address they
intended to visit, were captured yes
terday by detectives who took the dare.
Last January gang Of expert safe
openers entered the loft building at
338 Canal Street, ripped open safes
there and departed after collecting
$4,000 in jewelry and unset precious
stones. No policeman interfered with
them. Detectives who were summoned
after the harm had been done made no
progress toward arresting the cracks
men, who, flushed with pride over their
easily accomplished feat, gave way to
boasting.
These boasts sounded through the
underworld and eventually came to the
ears of the police. Stool pigeons in
formed Captain John j. Stapleton, head
Of the loft and safe squad, that the
mob" that had gone through the
Canal Street building were laughing at
him and his efforts to find them. That
made Captain Stapleton angry.
Later, the doughty captains wrath
became apoplectic when certain stink
ing persons whispered to his men that
the same vainglorious gang of "yeggs"
were loudly announcing their intention
of visiting the same loft building all
over again, collecting whatever tney had
missed on their first visit and enjoying
another hearty laugh at the expense of
the sluggish police.
Patience Is Rewarded
Whereupon the safe and loft squad,
from captain to youngest member,
swore mighty oath to catch these
braggarts if it was the last act of their
official lives. After the challenge was
carried to them, the detectives did not
relax their vigilance over the building
for an instant. Weeks passed and
story of the city's crime the loft
burglary in Canal Street was forgotten
by most persons. But Stapleton and
his men remembered it with the tenac-
ity and vindictiveness Of affronted cle-
plants.
Yesterday their long watch had its
reward They knew the "safe mob"
was about to fulfill it's threat, for de-
tective watching the building from the
outside several days ago saw q furtive
figure slip up to the door and take a
wax impression of the keyhole.
At 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon
key made from that impression. saun-
tered up to the building, which had
been closed since noon, and entered
They ascended to the fourth floor
Behind them crept several members of
the safe and loft squad with the caution
of cats.
Valuable Stock Saved
The trio paused before the office Of
S. Steinberg, manufacturing jeweler, in
whose safe there reposed some 100000
worth of gems and metals. The Office
door has a patent lock. The three cut
this away and entered. The safe in the
corner had yielded $1,000 at the time
of the January robbery. 1t held much
greater treasure now, but the trio
made no attempt to open it, They
placed black bag one of them carried
before it, and then started back down
stairs. Evidently they were merely
getting ready for long nights work.
They walked smack into the arms of
waiting detectives. who fell upon them
with all the violence inspired by
long-pent-up emotions. 1t was good
fight while it lasted, but the trio were
outnumbered and overpowered.
In the black bag the triumphant
sleuths discovered three sticks of dyna-
mite, set of drills of the finest steel,
brace, one of the best constructed
sectional jisnmies the police have ever
seen, and three pairs of gloves.
At headquarters the three were
charged with burglary, attempted burg
larry and possessing dynamite illegally
They were booked as Joseph Marcus,
alias Joseph Simon; Harry Gold, alias
Aaron Gold, 229 East Eighteenth
Street, and Harry Salkin, 31l South
Fifth Street, Brooklyn.
Captain Stapleton was smiling last
night for the first time in three months.