“Cracking Cribs.”

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1865, 2 August 1886, Page 2

“Cracking Cribs.”

I* thieves slang “ cracking a crib ’’ means breaking into premises for the purpose of effecting a robbery. This branch ol the predatory art has come into fashion in Wellington, while it is not so long ago that several practical illustrations ol it were given in the Wairarapa district. Some months back a jeweller’s shop in Willis street was robbed of a large amount of goods, but the detectives " through information received,” managed not only to arrest the thief, but also to recover all the articles stolen, almost jutaet, The thief was convicted and got a

long sentence. Only the other night the shopol Mr Freeman, jeweller, in Manners street, Wellington, was broken into and a large portion of his stock, comprising watches, chains, rings and other articles was stolen to the value of between £7OO and £BOO. The robbery appears to have been affected in a very simple manner. The thief (or thieves) got into the background, out through the bars of a window, entered the premises, and passing into the front shop through an unlocked door, collected together the jewellery and made off with it. If the thief possesses money and can quietly leave for Australia or England, without oflering a single article for sale in the colony, he may possibly get off all right and enjoy the proceeds of his ill'gotten gains. We think it probable that since the direct line of steamers from England to the colony has been established, a few expert London “ cracksmen ” may have found it worth while to pay the chief cities of New Zealand a professional visit, execute a few well planned burglaries, and make off to England with the spoil. From a thieves’ point of view, such an enterprise would possess considerable attractions. If it succeeded the thieves would make a series of good hauls and enjoy their booty in “ distant parts beyond.” If they got caught, tried and convicted, they woald probably have “ to do time ’’ in gaol and on the roads for ten years. Such a penalty as that is, however, simply a disagreeable contingency connected with the " cracksman’s ” business. Should there be a few first class London “ cracksmen ” in the colony oa a predatory tour, we may expect—in the event of their not being soon captured—to hear of a few mote robberies in Wellington or elsewhere. They might even visit the Wairarapa and try “ to crack a crib ” at—say—Masterton. In these cities and country townships whore the buildings are mostly of wood, a burglary is a very easy affair to an expert housebreaker. Then the police watch, even in cities, is not very efficient, while in country townships it is almost practically ineffective as a preven« tive of planned burglaries. The moral of all this is that jewellers should keep a sharp look out for midnight burglars.