Evening star., 1953-06-22
Girl Held as Expert
With JimmyLi 10
70 Housebreakinus

An 18-year-old girl. described
by police as an expert jimmy
thief, was held for the grand
jury today after testimony that
she has admitted 20 housebreak-
ing and larceny cases and "many
more" are being investigated.
The girl, Mrs. Lois Ross, col
ored, Of the 1900 block Of Sew
enth street NV, was arrested
Saturday after a wedding guest
complained $54 had been stolen
from her pocketbook by a woman
posing as a maid.
Mrs. Ross was given a hearing
by United States Commissioner
Cyril Lawrence on the Saturday
case. in which she was charged
with grand larceny. and an
earlier case in which she was
accused Of housebreaking.
More Cases Pending.
Detective Sergt. L. L. Frost Of
the general assignment squad
told the Commissioner the girl
had admitted these two cases as
well as 18 others. He also
testified many more cases" are
pending.
Commissioner Lawrence said
he was aware the girl already
was under bond on a charge of
assault with a dangerous weapon
on q policeman. He said he
would ordinarily make the bond
higher but in view of her age, he
fixed bond at $4,000.
1t. Howard F.. Mowry of the
Third Precinct told reporters
earlier that Mrs. Ross had
cruised the precinct with his
men and pointed out so places
she had entered.
1t. Mowry said she was also
believed to have operated in the
Tenth and Thirteenth Precincts
and the number Of places she
entered may rise as high as 200.
Tools In Handbag.
Sergt. Frost said three screw
drivers, one switchblade knife,
one butter knife and q pair of
gloves were found in her hand
bag when she was arrested.
He added that she was adept
at tripping locks with the butter
knife but in some places she
simply forced the lock with a
Screwdriver.
Police described this method
of operation:
She would knock on a door be-
tween 11.30 am. and $3.50 pm.
to check on whether the occu-
pants were home. II there were
an answer, she would explain
she was looking for q job as a
maid
On several occasions, the
housewives were interested
enough to ask for her name and
address. She did leave q name
not her own-and Sergt. Frost |
said the handwriting had been
identified as hers at several |
places. II no one was home, she |
went to work. Police found her
hngerprintS in one housebreak- |
ing where she had neglected to |
wear her gloves, Sergt. Frost said. |
Husband Questioned.
Police questioned her husband |
yesterday. He said he knew
nothing about her activities. He
explained that he thought she
got the money she spent on |
clothes by actually working as
q maid.
Sergt. Frost said they had re-
ceived several descriptions of q |
girl jimmy thief but had been |
misled because all the descrip- |
tions described an "upswept" |
hairdo. The girls hairdo gives |
the quick impression Of being |
upswept but is actually just cut |
short and curly.
In the Saturday case, police |
said Mrs. Ross walked into an
apartment in the 1900 block of
New Hampshire avenue NV, |
where q wedding reception was
In progress.
Poses - Maid.
Mrs. Dorothy Bordeaux, 81
member Of the wedding party |
who lives at that address, asked |
her. what are you doing here?"
II am one Of the extra maids"
Mrs. Ross repeatedly replied.
Mrs. Bordeaux said she then |
left the room. When she re-
turned. both $54 from her purse |
and the maid" had disappeared.
Mrs. Ross was arrested on the |
street near her home BY Pvt. |