Year: 1875

HIS. TooI.s AND Hrs OBsrAcLEs-How TO


GUARD AGAINST THEM


Many people. when they lock their
doors at night, have habit of leaving
the key in the lock, under the i'm
preston that it will prevent any person
using pick or skeleton key to open the
door, and SO it will But in this case
the thief uses neither of those instru-
ments. He introduces into the key
hole very strong, though light for
ceps, and, seizing the extremity of the
key, opens the door with single turn
of his wrist. Then, if you leave key
in the lock, let it be one that does not
open the door.


There is but little difference between
the tools of a frst-class burglar and
those of an honest locksmith, for the
latter is often called upon to pick locks
and open safes when keys are lost and
time is pressing. There are some in
struments, of course, such as a dark
lantern and revolver not required by
the honest tradesman in his business,
that are all important to the professional
burglar. A first class outfit comprises
a dark-lantern, large pruning knife,
useful in cutting ont door -pannels a
palette-knife, thin and plant, for open
ing windows by insertion between the
sashes SO as to push back the spring
fastening; jimmy or small crowbar
about foot in length, and splayed CT
crow footed at one end skeleton keys
with wards at each end, called " "double-
endcrs ;" wires to lift lock-tumblers,
and a center pit. This is complete
set of ordinary tools, and may be car
ried with ease in small carpet-bag.


Hall door-locks are large, massive
and usually take very large and ap-
parently complex warded key; but the
burglar is well aware that many of
these wards are superfuous. If he
wants to make key for such lock he
cuts out blank KEY in tin, one side of
which he covers with wax. Wards being
simply distractions fixed in the locks,
he has only carefully to insert the blank
and turn it gently to receive an i'm
preston of them on the wax. From
this impression key is easily forged
out of strong iron wire. OF course it
is much simpler than the original.
Sometimes doors are opened with the
pick-lock, which acts by working out
side the wards, reaching the bolt in
that way but it requires more dex-
terity than the other, and is successful
only in the hands of the practical thief.


The success of the burglar when
operating on warCed locks, caused them
at length to be discarded from banks
and money-houses, in favor of the lever
ortumbler- lock, and the thief's skeleton
keys found themselves bent to no effect
in endeavoriHg to open them. SO the
locksmith had to be circumvented by
fresh means, and the jack the box
was invented. Its object was to force
the lock off or to rend the case so that
the bolts might be drawn back. This
was accomplished by inserting a T.
shaped bolt of iron in the lock, and
then, by means of the jack ian adapta-
ton of the principle of the lever and
screw, rending open the lock. This
plan was prevented by introducing very
small keys, and placing the tumblers,
etc., above the key-hole. Having been
defeated for long while at the safe
lock, they at length discovered new
plan, which was to attack the hinges,
pressing them off by means of power
ful levers. . In this manner the safe of
a large firm in London was opened,
and an immense quantity of valuables
stolen. The firm brought an action
against the safemakers who had sold
them the safe as thief-proof, to recover
damages, and for the defense, the bur-
kidI WIZ udi DCCA SoPsuiCu obo oCA-
fenced, was placed on the stand, and
deposed that there was no safe made
that would resist an attack properly
made on its hinges. After this trial the
safemakers countersunk their hinges,
and at the present time we may safely
say that the thief has the worst of the
battle.


After the lock has been overcome the
burglar has often to remove door-bolts.
To do this it is sometimes necessary to
cut out one of the panels. This used to
be effected by means of afine saw. Now,
an instrument called the panel-cutter
is used. A strong stem with gimlet
point is thrust into the center of the
panel. Through this stem slides
cross bar, carrying at one extremity
sharp cutting tool, which can be ad-
justed to move at any required radius.