BURGLARS IN MELBOURNE

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 128, 30 May 1917, Page 8

BURGLARS IN MELBOURNE

A reign of terror has been established in the suburbs of Melbourne by the suri prising number of burglaries and other ' crimes wihch are reported daily. Although some of those harpies who trado on the credulity of the people have been punished, it seems that there is still scope for pobcemen among a different class. St. Kilda is apparently the favourite spot for these criminals, and numerous cases of burglary and other offences have recently been reported. In one house the' foresight of the "crack" was noticeable, for ho had prepared two windows for his escape, and although two men were in the house he was not discovered until he. had finished ransacking a lady's room, and he hastily beat a retreat through the window. The burglar had taken the men's clothes out into the dining-room,, the more easily to search them. This was the second time the house had been entered in a fortnight. Stealing from carts is very oomitioii, and on'one occasion the police took possession of a culprit one hour after he had boen caught by several van owners. In giving evidence one" roan said that, at various times he had lost over £30 worth of goods. A precaution usually taken by the burglars is the carrying of a handkerchief with chloroform on it, as in several instances these handkerchiefs have been found in the rooms ransacked or hava been seen in the handß of the midnight visitors. Cemeteries are usually connected with loneliness, and several times men have taken advantage of unprotected women hear the cemetery, knooked them down, and taken their handbags. A touch of madness is seen in a man who appears to have one object iv life, namely, to frighten women and chil-drc-n. He had lately dispensed with most of his clothing, and a body of residents, in view of the inadequate police protection, formed themselves into a band and kept things quiet for some time. This is only one of several similar cases, and householders are resorting to lighting their houses all night, but women are living in terror every.vnere, and are afraid to go out at night time. It prejudices recruiting to a great extent, as women do not want their men folk to leave them with such dangers surrounding them at their very doors. Only one thing will put a stop to such wholesale crime, and that is the extra police protection which may be given by the newly-formed Police Association, otherwise, the residents have decided to club together and hire patrol men.