ELUSIVE BURGLAR

Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1933, Page 8

ELUSIVE BURGLAR

“CIMLET JIMMVS” CRIMES

ARREST EVADED FOR 11 YEARS

“Gimlet Jimmy,” the most daring and elusive burglar in England, whom detectives have been trying to .capture for 11 years, carried out two robberies, involving. £I3OO in cash, early, one morning recently with lighting swiftness.

The problem facing the police in their hunt ifor “Jimmy” that they have no. notion of his appearance. Nor has he eyer. left behind him a single clue, which, in the event of his capture, would definitely establish his identy with hi s previous crimes. Only once has a glimpse been caught of him. That was seven years ago, when, in carrying out the greatest coup of his career—the raiding of a bank at Deansgate, Manchester— the nights watchman saw “Jimmy” for a fleeting instant as he fan past a door in making his escape. “Jimmy,” who nearly always confines his activities to the north of England, lias invariably one method of approach. For weeks lie watches and learns the habits of bis intended victim, usually a wealthy shopkeeper. Then comes the night, when “Jimmy” begins to work. First a visit to his victim’s house for the keys of the shop and any valuables in the house safe. Afterward armed with the keys there is the raid op the shop. On the latest occasion “Jimmy” entered the home of Mr W. Smith, of Asliton-on-Mersey, and without waking the owner,-took a bunch of keys from the bedside and opened a safe in flip, house, from which he took £3OO. Half-an-hour later he had taken another £IOOO from the safe of Mr Smith’s shop at Gorton. “Jimmy,” whose name of “Gimlet” comes from bis peculiar method of entering a bouse through a window, is estimated to have secuuil more than £IOO,OOO by his burglaries.