RETURN OF THE “CAT.”

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17242, 29 October 1927, Page 14 (Supplement)

RETURN OF THE “CAT.”

CLIMBING THIEF'S SUCCESSES. By a raid on Sunningdene House, Sudbury, Aliddlesex, which resulted in a haul of jewellery and clothing valued at £SOOO, the “cal” burglar has signalised that he has begun operations for another season, says a London paper. Every year since 1923 this acrobatic housebreaker lias reappeared in the last weeks of September, and at regular intervals has carried on his skilful work until about the middle of the following March. He has brought off nearly twenty first-class coups and numerous less successful burglaries in London and district, and has stolen property worth tens of thousands of pounds.

Several times the police have made arrests and obtained convictions of supposed “oat” burglars, but they have been poor imitators of the genuine gymnast thief. So similar are the circumstances of the first-class exploits that it is plain there is one master “cat”—a burglar who can climb like a monkey and move as stealthily in the dark as the animal from which he derives his title. In 70 per cent, of the cases investigated by the police he has entered dwelling houses while the family were at dinner. Invariably he climbs by a water or drain pipe part of the way up the wall of the house, and always the building selected is one with ornamental work, .which assists him in swarming to the upper rooms, and with balconies which provide hiding places and access to unguarded windows.

Last winter the “cat” confined his attention largely to country houses. His latest venture at Sudbury suggests that this season he may agaun specialise in quiet districts. When “Felix,” as the cat burglar is called by the police, has left any personal trace It has always been the same practically valueless clue—the imprint of a