Burglar Outwits 'Yard'

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 124, 28 May 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

Burglar Outwits 'Yard'

SCOTLAND Yard detectives, who were engaged for more than a year on the "flannelfoot" case, are now trying to track down "Flannelfoot No. 2." "Xo. 2"' is a burglar whom the police have named the "night man." During recent months he has raided more than 200 houses on the Becontree estate, Ilford, Essex. Like Flannelfoot, he pilfers drawers and wardrobes, breaks open gas meters. >afes and even children's monev boxes He wraps towels round his "feet to

deaden the sound and steals bicvcles to get away on. He is obviously a small man, for in one house he got through a window measuring only 14in. by 10in.. and he uses a chair to reach gas meters. ' The Yard knows that he Is workiii" according to a street map, "doin"" one street each night. But when detectiveare stationed in roads which, according o his system, he should visit, he outwits then, by go lng to the other' end of the estate. The C.I.D. is now organising special watche* on all the roads.

It was stated in Court that Xolas - ■?? found l.y a hou--..-ji.,:.U'r emu 'hhi-j ui:-:-i a hedue in hi, garden at 1.1.1 a.m. \\i detain.'.! her and telephoned ih« ••••■i •• The •■•>vui: a.,! Raffles- i,ad m. th-'d- , : her own. Night after ni-ht «Lp w,.-.'." paTrol streets wirhin a radius . ;' ~ : \ miles nf her lol^inj-. No one took any not'r-e. ih'nk:::; r] .-. she \va> jii*t a dome-tic >o"\ sir "• v •• her d,,-, a !a-t run. Sally knew where to dispone of }■ •:• gardens behind high hedges. With o tabic knife a:..! <;••«,... forced windows and. climMi'-' *'•■- -he hurriedly filled a stvi" 'h'ai."''-"l paper shopping bag with val'Tih' - — generally -ilver. ■Sally knew vrhre to dispose of h--swag and. arter she had made a c.,.^ haul, lay low for weeks, only attenr"; - icther coup when her funds rin s'hi:•:".