The copper era and Morenci leader., 1922-11-17
shipments in Arizona and New Mex

shipments in Arizona and New Mex ico.
 Special agents are of the opinion that bands operating over the entire division on both railway systems are working as a unit, perhaps directed by a single person who receives q substantial portion of the profits Added weight is given this belief by the success which the organized bands have attained and the similarity in methods adopted by them.
 While recent arrests are cited by Officer R. Hughes as an indication that the robber band will not be able to consistently combat the organized effort of railroad detectives, he as serted that large numbers of thieves are without doubt operating, and will require several months to apprehend. Boarding freight cars along the lines, single robber inspects cars until a variety of merchandise is located which he believes may easily be disposed of and be susceptible of concealment. At stated place, | where colleagues lie in wait by the railroad, the merchandise is thrown from a freight car, while the robber | alights at the first opportunity. Ere quently the robbery is. not discover ed until the train has passed it's scene many miles. During the in terval, accomplices have concealed or made away with the loot, and without the knowledge of the exact spot where the robbery occurred, of ficers are seriously handicapped in their efforts.
 A favorite method of the thieves is to bury loot within a short dis tance of the railroad, where it re- mains until they are certain of safety ill its removal. Equipped with pack burros or partly loaded wood wag- on, thieves then go to the scene, load the loot, and start directly for the international boundary, avoiding beaten trails or main highways, al though the boldest occasionally tran sports merchandise beneath wood on frequented roads.
 Passing the border, danger is re- duced to a minimum and the best roads may be taken directly to the fence who will give ready cash for the loot.
 Merchandise of light weight and easily concealed is usually chosen by the robbers, including clothing. auto mobile tires, rubber goods, toilet articles, umbrellas, and an endless variety of articles. Wide variety in goods selected augme ents ease of dis posing of it and reduces danger to fences who purchase it. That a DOT tion of the goods eventually makes it's way back to the United States has been suspected but is not verified.
 Residing frequently in towns along the railroads the thieves are for the most part of Mexican descent and are usually unsuspected by other residents or authorities Five men arrested in Benson recently were habitants of a small shack in the outskirts of the town, where little was known, of them. The arrest was made on the day following the theft of which they are accused.
 Special officers of both railway sys- tens are operating in unison to break down traffic in stolen goods, in the belief, that despite the assistance given the bands by the closeness of the country, characterized by large unsettled areas, mountain ranges and canyons, continual vigilance will re- suit in arrest of the leaders and eventual elimination of other than occasional freight thefts.