The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-28
Theft WAVE
SPURS Police
TO new DRIVE
More Property Is Stolen in
First 81 Days Of 1928,
Morley Finds.
MORE ALSO RECOVERED
Unemployment Increase Is
One Big Factor, Is
Chiefs View.

Five figures at the foot of a col
umn spurred Police Chief Claude M.
Worley today to drive his men
harder toward suppression of thiev-
cry in Indianapolis.
The numbers disclosed that $13,-
$50 more in property was stolen in
the first f1fty-Seven days OF 1873
than in the same period Of 1927.
Police continued to roundup
loiterers and charge them with va
grancy.
Twenty-11ine were booked on vag-
rancy charges Monday night and
questioned today. Four were found
in blind tiger mad the others lott
ering poolrooms and on the streets.
Many admitted that they had not
been working for some time and
we're unable to explain their means
of support, Chief Worley declared.
Men found working or able to
give good account Of themselves
will not be bothered" the chief said.
''But we believe that these safe rob-
berries were home talent affairs and
we want to put an end to them"
The chief was not admitting that
his men have fallen down, despite
the wave of twenty-siX burglarieS
over the weekend.
His reports showed that his men
have recovered more stolen property
during the first period this year
than last. The crooks just have been
so active that the police have not
been quite able to keep up.
Unemployment Spurs Crime
The increase in the number of
unemployed has added to the prob
lem, Worley says.
I'VE have no professional crooks
to speak of in Indianapolis" said
Worley. cit is comparatively easy
to spot them and drive them out.
But it's not SO easy to keep track
of the constant raw recruits, being
added to crookdom's army. The
type Of most of the crimes clearly
shows that they are committed by
desperate, needless youngsters"
From Jan. to 5 p. m. Monday,
police listed $344813 worth of prop
erty stolen in the city, of which
$284,995 was recovered. This left
$59,918 as net profit for the crooks.
During the same period last year,
$330,932 was stolen and $281,917 re-
covered, leaving $49,015 in the hands
of thieves. The department has re-
covered $2,978 more so far this year.
Number of Thefts Up
The number of thefts has in
increased with the loot. So far this
year, 1893 thefts have been inves-
tigated, 118 more than during the
first fifty seven days of 1927,
Since Jan. /, police have cleared
up, by arrests or property recovery,
1,186 cases, 100 more than last year.
Burglaries have increased, but
robberies decreased, tribute to Wor
ley's policy of keeping rowing squads
on the streets at night. The bur-
glaries this year have totalled 298,
compared with 214 last year, Rob-
berries have dropped from l26 last
year to ia this year.
Automobiles continue to be the
easiest property stolen. To date 527
cars have been reported taken, of
which 487 have been recovered. Last
year $50 cars we're stolen and 479
recovered, the police showing i'm
+s1ovement in this line.
Police not only have recovered
more stolen property this year, but
lave arrested more persons in theft
cases. This years arrest total is
SIG, compared with last years 457.