South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-05-27
THIEVES PILLAGE
; STORE, THEN FLEE
WHILE COPS QUIZ
Robbers Loot Greening Store
of $500 Valuables-Neighs
bors Flay Police.


Sudden approach OF the police In
terrupted FIVE burglars in the midst
81 their raid on the department
store OF Robert Greening. 1921 Lin
coin way. W. early Thursday morn
ing and precipitated the flight Of the
thieves in a high-pOwered touring
car. They escaped with meme silk
and madras shirts and women's hos
iery or the estimated value OF $500.
Residents OF the neighborhOOd
were awakened when the robbers
gained entrance 20 the store. Leav-
ing their Cadillac car standing across
the street, the burglars took a crow
bar and pried open the front door.
While they sorted out the loot de-
aired. neighbors looked on IN ex-
element from porches and windows
OF homes. Several OF the spectators
bitterly criticised the police Thurs
day for alleged delay in arrival af-
ter they were called and for alleged
failure 20 take up the pursuit when
the burglars fed
InsOlencc Charged
When the patrol arrived, the po-
lice were told by score Of shouts
delivered from open windows that
the robbers had turned down Sher-
man av. According TO the witnesses
the police only said, "Aw." and
shut W"
The police explained their tardi-
ness. Il was declared, by saying that
something went wrong with the
engine" and that they could not get
there any sooner.
Whether IN their excitement. the
witnesses miscalculated the length
% time the police had 20 arrive and
exaggerated the officers alleged
poor Judgment IN not taking up the
pursuit f. matter Of conjecture.
Attempts 70 communicate with
members Of the night force who
were on the expedition. 10 obtain
their version OF the reports, were
unsuccessful Thursday forenoon.
Finds Revolver UnIoaded.
Edward DeCOurcey. a Notre
Dame student, who rooms in tho
neighborhood Of the Greening store.
was walking along Lincoln way w.
at the time OF the robbery.
He immediately went TO his
volver with the intent or soaring
the thieves away. He discovered
that the revolver was unloaded and
that he had no more cartridges. He
then telephoned for the police.
The call was put through and De
Courcey advised the department.
neighbors say. that Il would be best
TO come 10 the scene of the robbery
by a detour instead OF running M
Lincoln way w. as the patrol might
be seen.
About % minutes later. according
to witnesses. the police arrived.
There were five az them. Two were
on a motorcycle and three in the
patrol.
Glare Of lights Warns Thieves.
The oficers arrived at the scene
OF the robbery by driving along Lin
coin way w They We're running
at the rate estimated at so miles
an hour. The darkness was so fl
Illuminated by the glazing head
lights on the machines. that the
witnesses believed that the robbers
may have seen their approaching
from afar. As soon as the police
arrived the thieves jumped into
their car and sped north on Sher-
man av.
Before pursuing the robbers, the
policemen investigated the robbery.
some OF the neighbors declared.
Appearances indicated the thieves
were carrying out a systematic
scheme 20 loot the place Of every
thing IN II. The timely arrival of
the police undoubtedly forestalled
this idea. Beginning at the cases
IL goods at the front door. the
thieves removed the shirts Under
this case was another filled with no
siery. This also was looted.