BURGLAR'S RAPID RAIDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18996, 18 April 1925, Page 2 (Supplement)

BURGLAR'S RAPID RAIDS.

CRIME FOLLOWS THE TUBE. SKILLED " CAT » THIEVES. LONDON POLICE PROBLEM. » SUBURBAN " BLACK SPOTS." 1 * Tlioro is no abatement in the epidemic 1 of burglaries in certain parts of Middlesex, concerning; the seriousness of which Sir Montagu Sharps, K.C., chairman of the Middlesex Sessions, commented onco more recently. ' Most of these crimes, says the Sunday ' News, are committed by thieves who have adopted the climbing methods of the so-called "cat" burglars, and many householders are having cxI perience of finding that valuable and treasured possessions have disappeared 5 during their absence. Golders Green is a j particularly black spot, and as fast as one ! gang of thieves is laid by the heels an- > other begins a house-breaking campaign. It is significant that burglaries are most - numerous in localities easily accessible by " tube, and extensions of rapid underground , railway' facilities are inevitably followed by an increase in crime in the districts opened up. Cases have lately come to light of young men belonging to dangerous gangs of housebreakers leaving a certain cafe in Bloomsbury, travelling to Golders Green or Kdgware, and boing back in the West End within an hour. In the interval they have scouted round for a likely crib to crack, entered it, collected valuable property, and handed it over to a receiver. Seldom is an attempt made to raid a house where there is anyone in charge, and a favourite time with thieves is in the early evening. Most young burglars in these days ate skilful climbers, and prefer to take the risk of a serious fall rather than carry a jemmy, which is not only an awkward tool to use without making a noise, but is also a difficult thing to explain away in the event of capture. Although verv few of these thieves enjoy liberty for any length of time, polico efforts to curtail their activities are considerably handicapped. Though thousands of new houses have been built and scores of new streets mado in suburbs served by the tubes, no corresponding increase in the police force has accompanied these developments. Many of the new streets, too, are still in a crude state and badly lighted, rendering police supervision extremely difficult. A Dread of Dogs. The gangs of burglars now operating in London suburbs appreciate this to the full, and one "cat" burglar sentenced early this year to five years' penal servitude bad managed to raid successfully a score of houses before he made the slip that led to his capture. Householders who are away from home in the evening hours are advised to take the procaution of either leaving someone in chargo or at least securely fastening their windows. One of the best means of keeping the burglar at a respectful distance is to have a dog on guard, for there is nothing rnoro dreaded by the man who is out on u looting expedition than a noisy animal that begins to bark at the slightest sound. As a result of tho tube extensions of recent, years, the work of tracking men suspected of criminal intent is much more difficult than was formerly the case. In the days of infrequent trains and few stations a message to Scotland Yard enabled detectives to take up points of vantage on tho platforms en route to town, and 1 there was not much chance of anyone • laden with booty getting away. Since the ■ advent of the tubes, however, such s methods have been rondered practically futile, and the odds are in favour of the 1 burglar, until he commits somo glaring indiscretion. The criminals who travel by tube to the suburbs are not always "young recruits. Occasionally men with an international reputationforsake the inner circle of London, with its formidable force of uniformed police and detectives, and try their luck in the new districts on the tube routes. Sometimes they come to grief, despite their skill and cunning. Recently a notorious American "crook" who selected Golders Green for hjs operations, was outwitted by the local police. He afterwards escaped from Parkhurst, and was at liberty for several days before he was recaptured. Daring Woman Burglar. Perhaps the most astounding instance of the tubes being used us an aid to crime was provided by tho case of a young and pretty woman burglar who lived at Shepherd's Bush. Equipped with a small hammer, which she carried in a handbag and used to break windows or glass door panels near the catch, she left her homo and children, and having explained to her husband that she was spending the evening wiU) friends, went on burglary expeditions to the Hendon district. * This woman generally reached home before midnight, and nobody was more surprised than her husband when, following her capture red-handed, the astonishing story of her exploits was revealed.