shop, and secretes himself behind some goods, or in the cellar, or
up the chimney. This could be done at any hour of the day, but is
frequently managed when the servants or shopmen are out dining at
mid-day, or towards evening, when the places of business are about to
be closed. The thief may be respectably dressed, or not, according
to the nature of the place of business. A person may call with some
fictitious message, and keep one or more of the servants or shopmen in
conversation while a confederate could meantime slip into the shop or
warehouse, and if detected would seldom be suspected of being connected
with this party. They sometimes hover for days in the neighbourhood
of shops and warehouses they intend to plunder, and watch the most
favourable opportunity to effect this object.
Towards evening when the servants are all gone, and the place of
business closed, the rest of his companions come to the spot,
consisting of one or more men, a woman being occasionally employed.
While they are aware that one of their gang is secreted on the
premises, as a precaution they sometimes knock at the door or ring the
bell to ascertain if the servants or shopmen are gone. Should they be
lingering in the premises, arranging the goods, engaged with their
business-books, accounts, or otherwise, they ask for Mr. So-and-so, or
have some other fictitious message.
On the departure of the people belonging to the shop, the thief inside
generally opens the door to his companions on the given signal, when
they proceed to rifle the premises of Manchester goods, cottons, silks,
shawls, satins, or otherwise, and to store them into large bags they
bring with them, which they place beside the door, when filled, to be
conveniently carried away. They wrench open the desks, money-drawers,
and other lockfasts with a jemmy, chisel, or screw-driver, as well as
any doors which may be locked, occasionally using the cutter and saw,
or other tools, and pierce through brick and other partition walls with
an auger or other instrument. In many cases the doors of the apartments
in warehouses are left open so that the thief has free access to the
property.
Meantime a man or woman is watching outside while the thieves are
busy plundering within, keeping a special look-out for the policeman
proceeding on his beat. They have many ingenious expedients to decoy
him away, by conversation or otherwise. The policeman is generally from
fifteen to twenty minutes in going round his beat, so that they have
ample time to carry off the booty.
While the thieves are busy collecting their spoil, the door is shut
with a spring lock, or fastened with a padlock by means of a key they
may have made for the purpose, so that the policeman has no suspicion
of what is passing within. The former frequently remain for several
hours on the premises, while a person outside is keeping watch, waiting
to hear their signal when they have got the booty packed and ready.
Should the coast be clear outside, notice is conveyed to the cart or
cab, loitering somewhere in the vicinity, or which drives up at a
certain hour, when the door opens. The plunder is quickly handed into
the vehicle, which drives smartly away. The door is then shut, and the
robbers walk off, possibly in a different direction to that in which
the conveyance is gone.
Burglaries from _jewellers’ shops_ are frequently effected by means
of skeleton keys, or otherwise, by one or more men. A woman often
carries the tools to the shop, and keeps watch. So soon as a favourable
opportunity occurs they unlock the door and enter the premises, while
a man or woman watches outside, the woman perhaps walking along the
street as though she were a common prostitute, or familiarly accosting
the policeman or other persons she meets, and decoying them away
from the shop. In some cases, when she has not succeeded in getting
the policeman away, she pretends to fall down in a fit, when he has
possibly to take her to the nearest surgeon. Sometimes the woman feigns
to be drunk, and is taken to the police station, which takes him off
his beat. In the meanwhile the parties inside, with jemmy, chisel, saw,
or other tools, and with silent lights and taper or dark lantern, break
open the glass cases and boxes, and steal gold and silver watches, gold
chains, brooches, pins, and other jewellery, which they deposit in a
small carpet-bag, as well as rifle money from the desk.
Jewellers’ shops are sometimes entered by the thief getting into an
unoccupied house next door, or two or three houses off, and proceeding
along the roofs to the attic or roof of the house to be robbed, and
going in by the attic window, or removing a few of the slates. The
thieves then go downstairs and cut their way through the door or
partition, and effect an entry into the shop.
Most of the robberies in jewellers’ shops have of late years been
committed by means of false keys, or by cutting out a hole in the door
or shutter with a cutter, which is done in a short space of time, and
when the instrument is moistened it makes very little noise. This hole
is covered with a piece of paper painted of the same colour as the
door, and is pasted on, which prevents the police having any suspicion.
Sometimes jewellers’ shops are entered by persons lodging in the floor
above, or having access to it, and then cutting through the flooring
and descending into the jeweller’s shop by means of a rope-ladder they
attach to the floor. At other times they are entered by cutting through
the solid brick wall at the back of the shop.
Several years ago a very remarkable burglary took place at Mr.
Acutt’s large linen-drapery establishment in the Westminster Road.
About four o’clock in the morning the policeman on duty heard a man
give the signal at a shop-door. The constable believing thieves to be
on the premises sprung his rattle, roused up the inmates, and got the
assistance of several other constables. When they entered the shop they
found upwards of 30_l._ worth of silks and satins, and other valuables
packed up in bundles ready to be carried off. They found two thieves
who had gained an entrance by getting over some closets, scaling a wall
by means of the rain-spout, and walking along a high wall about nine
inches thick. They then removed the sky-light at the back, and let
themselves down into the shop by a rope-ladder. By this means they got
into the shop of Mr. Acutt.
On being scared by the police they jumped from one house to another,
eight feet apart, over a height of about fifty feet, and there
concealed themselves behind a stack of chimneys. Several policeman
mounted to the roofs, but could not find them; and no one would venture
to leap to the adjoining houses, whither the thieves had gone. An
inspector of police ordered two men in plain clothes to be on the
watch, believing they must be concealed somewhere on the housetops.
About eight o’clock in the morning a man of the name of Fitzgerald
was out in a back court of an adjoining house washing himself, when
the thieves came down by a spout twenty feet long communicating with
the water cistern. On getting down one of them jumped on the back of
Fitzgerald. He shouted out “murder and police,” when two constables
came up and took both of the thieves into custody.
On the trial it was said the prisoners’ women had given several pounds
to bribe this man, and he pretended he could not identify them, and
they were acquitted. They have since been transported for other
burglaries.
One of them was a man of thirty years of age, about five feet nine
inches high, slim made, with a most daring countenance. The other
was of middle stature, about twenty-six years of age, with pleasing
appearance.
Another burglary took place in a silk warehouse in Cheapside in 1842.
The burglars were admitted into an adjoining carpet warehouse by one of
the warehousemen on a Saturday night, and broke through a brick-wall
eight or nine inches thick, and made an entry into the silk warehouse.
They did not steal any carpets, as they were too bulky. Goods were
seen to be taken away by a cab on the Sunday afternoon. The padlock was
meantime secure on the outdoor, so that the police had no suspicion.
The robbery was discovered on the Monday morning, when it was found
from 1500_l._ to 2000_l._ had been carried off, and that a 100_l._ bank
note had also been taken from the desk of the carpet warehouse.
Soon after the foreman of the latter business establishment absconded,
and has not since been heard of, and there is strong suspicion he had
connived with the burglars.
Number of cases of breaking into shops,
&c., in the Metropolitan districts for
1860 104
Ditto ditto in the City 20
---
124
Value of property thereby abstracted in
the Metropolitan districts £1,899 0
Ditto ditto in the City 461 10
---------
£2,360 10
We shall now treat of the _burglaries_ in the metropolis, commencing
with the lower, and proceeding to notice the higher burglars, termed
the “cracksmen.”
Burglaries in the working districts of the metropolis are effected in
various ways--by one man mounting the shoulders of another and getting
into a first-floor window, similar to acrobats, by climbing over walls
leading to the rear of premises, cutting or breaking a pane of glass,
and then unfastening the catch; or by pushing back the catch of the
window with a sharp instrument, or by cutting a panel of a door with
a sharp tool, such as an American “auger.” Frequently they force the
lock of the door with a jemmy. The lower class of burglars who have not
proper tools sometimes use a screw-driver instead of a jemmy. In the
forcing of the locks of drawers or boxes, in search of property, they
use a small chisel with a fine edge, and occasionally an old knife.
There are frequently three persons employed in these burglaries--two to
enter a house, and one to keep watch outside, to see that there is no
person passing likely to detect. This man is generally termed a “crow.”
Sometimes a woman, called a “canary,” carries the tools, and watches
outside.
These low burglars carry off a booty of such small value that they are
necessitated frequently to commit depredations. They steal male and
female wearing apparel, and small articles of plate or jewellery, such
as teaspoons or a watch.
They are from seventeen years of age and upwards, and reside in the
Borough, Whitechapel, St. Giles, Shoreditch, and other low localities.
There is another kind of burglary committed by persons concealing
themselves on the premises, which is often done in public-houses. The
parties enter before the house is closed, by concealing themselves
in the coal-cellar, skittle-ground, or other place where they are
unobserved by those in charge of the house. These burglaries are done
by low people, with whose previous mode of living the police are
generally not acquainted. Very frequently they steal cigars, money in
the till or on the shelves of the bar, left to give change to customers
in the morning. There is another mode of entering public-houses, by
the cellar flaps from the pavement in front of the house, or by going
through the fanlight, and stealing property as before described, and
returning the same way, sometimes letting themselves out by the front
door, which has often a spring lock.
These burglaries are generally done at midnight, or between 1 and 5
o’clock.
There is a higher class of burglaries committed at fashionable
residences over the metropolis, and at the mansions of the gentry and
nobility, many of them in the West-end districts.
The houses to be robbed are carefully watched for several weeks,
sometimes for months, before the burglary is attempted. The thieves
take great precautions in such cases. They glean information secretly
as to the inmates of the house; where they sleep, and where valuable
property is kept. Sometimes this is done by watching the lights over
the house for successive nights. These burglaries are often “put up” by
the persons who execute them. They frequently get some of their more
engaging companions to court one of the servant girls, give her small
presents, and gain her favour, with the ultimate object of gaining
access to the house and plundering it. At other times, though more
rarely, they endeavour to become acquainted with the male servants of
the house--the butler, valet, coachman, or groom. Sometimes they try to
learn from the servants through other parties becoming acquainted with
them, if they cannot succeed themselves. At other times they gather
information from tradesmen who are called to the house on jobbing work,
such as painters, plumbers, glaziers, bell-hangers, tinsmiths, and
others, some of whom live near the burglars in low neighbourhoods, or
are frequently to be seen in the evenings in their company. We can
point our finger at three of these base wretches. One of them lives in
Whitefriars, Fleet Street, another in Tottenham-court Road, and a third
in Newell Street, Wardour Street, Oxford Street. These three persons
get up many of the burglaries in the West-end and other parts of the
metropolis, where they have work to do, when they find a suitable
place. Some of them have put up burglaries for thirteen or fourteen
years, and none of them have been detected, though suspected by the
police. They never have a hand in the burglaries themselves, but secure
a part of the booty. These “putters up” are from thirty to thirty-five
years of age, and one of them has been convicted of a felony.
If the burglars cannot enter by the back of the premises, they go
to the first-floor window in front, where there are no shutters. It
matters not whether it be public or not; they will enter in a couple of
minutes the premises by cutting the glass and undoing the catch.
The dwelling-houses in the West-end have often been entered by the
first-floor window; and servants have many times been wrongfully
charged with these burglaries, and lost their places in consequence.
Burglars generally leave their haunts to plunder about twelve o’clock
at midnight, often driving up in a cab to a short distance from the
spot where the burglary is to be attempted; but they frequently do
not enter the house till one or two in the morning. In general, they
take some liquor, such as gin and brandy, to keep up their spirits, as
they call it. The one who is to watch outside generally takes up his
position first, and the others follow. This is arranged so that the
persons who enter--generally two, sometimes three--should not be seen
by the policeman or others near the house.
When the latter come up, and find their companion at his post, and see
the coast clear, they instantly proceed to enter the house, in front or
behind, by the door or windows. Expert burglars go separate, to avoid
suspicion.
On entering the house, they go about the work very cautiously and
quietly, taking off their shoes, some walking in their stockings, and
others with India-rubber overalls. If disturbed they very seldom leave
their shoes or boots behind them.
Their chief object is to get plate, jewellery, cash, and other
valuables. The drawing-room is usually on the first-floor in front;
sometimes the whole of the first-floor is a drawing-room. They often
find valuables in the drawing-room. They search parlour, kitchen, and
pantry, and even open the servant’s workbox for her small savings.
When they cannot get enough jewellery and plate they carry off wearing
apparel. They often take money in the drawing-room from writing-desks
and ladies work-boxes. Experienced burglars do not spare time and
trouble to look well for their plunder.
This is the general course adopted on entering a dwelling-house. In
entering a shop, if they can find sufficient money to satisfy them,
they do not carry off bulky property, but if there is no money in the
desk or tills they rifle the goods, if they are of value.
In West-end robberies there are often two good cracksmen, one to keep
watch outside, while another is busy at his work of plunder within.
The person outside has to be on the alert, as he has generally to keep
watch over an experienced officer, and to let his companions know when
it is safe for them to work or to come out.
When a catch is in the centre of the window it is opened with a knife.
If there should be one on each side they will cut a pane of glass in
less than fifteen seconds, and undo them. The burglars seldom think of
carrying a diamond with them, but generally cut the glass with a knife,
as the starglazers do.
The shutters behind the window frame are often cut with what the
burglars term a cutter. It cuts with two knives, with a centrebit
stock, and makes a hole sufficiently large to admit the burglar’s arm.
When the shutters are opened there are often iron bars to guard the
window. The burglars tie a piece of strong cord or rope about two of
the bars, and insert a piece of wood about a foot in length between
this rope, and twist the wood. The bar is thereby bent sufficient to
allow them to enter, or it gives way in the socket. These bars are
sometimes forced asunder by a small instrument called a jack, by which
a worm worked by a small handle displaces them. The rope and stick are
used when they have not a jack. The latter can be conveniently carried
in the trousers pocket.
Woodwork, such as shutters, doors, and partitions, is often cut in late
years with the cutter, instead of the jemmy, as the former is a more
effective tool, and makes an opening more expeditiously. With this
instrument a door or shutter can be pierced sufficiently large to
admit the arm in a few minutes.
A brick wall requires more time. If there are no persons within
hearing, an opening can be made sufficiently large for a man to pass
through, in an hour. If there are people near the apartment, it
requires to be more softly done, and frequently occupies two or three
hours, even when done by an expert burglar. They generally pierce one
brick with an auger, and displace it; after the first brick is out,
they work with a jemmy, and take the mortar out, then pierce a brick on
the other side of the wall.
Burglars cannot pick Chubb’s patent locks. The best way to secure
premises where no person sleeps is to have a good patent lock on the
outer door, with an iron bar outside fastened by a patent Chubb lock.
This acts with double safety. If they break it off on the outside, the
policeman easily detects it when he comes round on his beat, which he
is sure to do before they have got the other lock opened, and this
prevents them getting in that way. If they break in from the roof, or
from the back, by cutting round the lock of an inside door, they do
not get the outside door opened, and cannot get away any bulky goods.
By this means the warehouse is more safe than if it were fastened any
other way.
Common locks on doors are so easily picked by thieves that no warehouse
ought to be left fastened in this way, unless there is a watchman over
it.
Some cracksmen have what is called a petter-cutter, that is, a cutter
for iron safes; an instrument made similar to a centrebit, in which
drills are fixed. They fasten this into the keyhole by a screw with a
strong pressure outside. The turning part is so fixed that the drills
cut a piece out over the keyhole sufficiently large to get to the wards
of the lock. They then pull the bolt of the lock back and open the door.
Chubb’s locks on iron safes are now made drill proof, so that they
cannot be pierced.
Any person sleeping in a room, with valuable property in his
possession, ought to have a chain on the door, like a street-door
chain, as the common locks are so easily picked, and the masked thief,
with dark lantern, can creep into the room without being heard. The
rattling of the chain is sure to awaken the person sleeping.
Expert burglars are generally equipped with good tools. They have a
jemmy, a cutter, a dozen of betties, better known as picklocks, a jack
to remove iron bars, a dark lantern or a taper and some silent lights,
and a life-preserver, and sometimes have a cord or rope with them,
which can be easily converted into a rope ladder. A knife is often used
in place of a chisel for opening locks, drawers, or desks. They often
carry masks on their face, so that they might not be identified. The
dark lantern is very small, with oil and cotton wick, and sometimes
only shows a light about the size of a shilling, so that the reflection
is not seen on the street without. Burglars often use the jemmy in
place of picklocks. When they go out with their tools, they usually
carry them wrapped up with list, so that they can throw them away
without making a noise, should a policeman stop them, or attempt to
arrest them. These are easily carried in the coat pocket, as they are
not bulky. There are parties--sometimes old convicts--who lend tools
out on hire.
When discovered by the inmates they are generally disposed to make
their escape rather than to fight, and try to avoid violence unless
hotly pursued. If driven to extremity, they are ready to use the
life-preserver, jemmy, or other weapon.
Sometimes they carry a life-preserver of a peculiar style, consisting
of a small ball attached to a piece of gut, that fastens round the
wrist. With this instrument, easily carried in the palm of the hand,
they can strike the persons who oppose them senseless, and severely
injure them.
In going up and down stairs, they often creep up not in the centre but
the side of the stair, to avoid being heard, as it is apt to creak
beneath the footstep, and they generally take off their shoes to move
more stealthily along.
They often use the cutter to make an opening in the middle of the panel
sufficiently large to admit the arm, to undo locks or bolts they cannot
reach outside.
Sometimes when the key is inside, and the door locked, they open it
with a small pair of plyers; others use a long piece of wire, with a
hoop put through the keyhole to lay hold of the bowl of the key. When
the hook is fastened in it, they can as easily undo the lock as if they
turned the key from the inside. Some burglars prefer the wire, others
use the plyers. They generally prefer the cutter to the centre-bit in
removing any woodwork. It resembles the centre-bit, but takes a much
larger piece out, and does so more speedily. The cutter costs from
15_s._ to 1_l._ In the absence of a cutter, they sometimes work with a
couple of gimlets and a knife, but this requires more time and makes
more noise, though not sufficient to disturb the inmates of the house,
if used expertly.
At the back of the house they enter through the kitchen window on the
basement, or by the parlour window above it on the first floor, or by
the window of the staircase alongside of the latter.
If experienced burglars, they listen at the doors of the apartments,
and know by the breathing in general if the inmates are sound asleep.
They sometimes begin their operations by going up to the highest
floor, and work their way down, carrying off the plunder. After having
finished what they call their work, they await the signal from the
“watch” set outside. These signals are sometimes given by one or more
coughs; some give a whistle, or sing a certain song, or tap on the door
or shutter, or make a particular cry, understood between the parties.
Should the plunder be bulky, they will have a cart or a cab, or a
costermonger’s barrow, ready on a given signal to carry it away. They
in general wait for the time when the police are changed, if the
inmates are not getting up, sometimes coming out at the front door, but
oftener at the back.
A remarkable case of burglary was committed in a dwelling-house in
a fashionable square in the West-end about twelve months ago, and
was effected in this manner. One day a well-dressed young man passed
by an area and took special notice of the cook, who happened to be
looking out of the window. Another day the same young man in passing
by accosted this servant, and made an appointment to meet her on a
certain occasion to go out to walk. This correspondence lasted for a
short time, when the young man was invited to tea at the house, to
spend a social evening. He was accompanied by a “pal” of his, a young
Frenchman, who courted the housemaid, while the other made love to the
cook. During their visit to the house, the family being then absent,
one of the young men pretended to be very unwell, and thought a walk in
the garden at the back of the house would be beneficial to him, and was
accompanied there by one of the servant girls.