RECURRENCE OF THE BURGILL SEASON.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1106, 31 October 1883, Page 2

RECURRENCE OF THE BURGILL SEASON.

The burgling season seems (o have set'in with vigour in various parts, of London, and unfortunately, some of the rascally-, “ cracksmen ” are apparently desirous of imitating the notorious Peace ill the use of the revolver. I Vhopo, however, that the fellow who shot three people lately and escaped may yet be brought within the meshes 'of the criminal law. Relative to this subject,let me mention an instance of burgling that is worth being recorded, as it shows the coolness and daring of certain members of the craft. Not long since, between six and seven o’clock a.ra., that is in broad daylight, a cab drove np to a house situated nearly .’ opposite my own place of residence, a man jumped out, and tapped at the street door,'vrhich was opened by another person. In the hall passage were several diningroom chairs turned one seat upon another. In a few moments several pictures were brought down to the cab, and placed upon the top. Oh the cabman asking if any of these were to be put inside, the reply was, “ No, I have something much more valuable than them,” and soon after ho placed a plat4| basket on the seat of the cab, and > several silver salvors. It was at this period of time that I was induced to look out of the window by bearing what proved to be the spring of a policeman’s rattle. This,-! found, proceeded from an upper window of the hon?e from which I thought the people were about to remove. And the sane idea of removal had occurred to the milk* man and the baker, who passed by when the cab was being packed. Then occurred a short coloquy between the lady (a widow) who had sprang the rattle and the man below relative to the “ bloomin’ row she was making,” which ended in the latter walking away coolly, and leisurely, with a Gladstone bag in one hand, and a parcel under bis arm. This daring robbery had been well planned. The entrance had been made at the back of the honse in a simple way. A large piece of putty had been “ dabbed ” on a sheet of glass with the palm of the hand and a diamond cut round it. The circular piece of glass was then removed, and easy access gained to the catch of the window. The place was in thorough disorder, and the pair of thieves mast have been in the house for several hours. Knowing that the policemen leave their beat at 6 o’clock and do not come on again till 7 o’clock, they chose that time when there was the least chance of any “ bobby” being near to spoil their game. The cabman, unlike most of his class, turned ont to be a simpleton, although at first he was looked upon as a confederate. Certainly he could easily have driven after the man and given the alarm had he chosen to do so, hut as he said after at the station house, ‘ be was perfectly dazed at the impertinence of the vagabond. Here had he got a wife and family at home, and not only was he taken for a thief, hut he was dragged to the station house and could not get his regular fare or one penny for all the trouble and annoyance to which he had been put.” I need scarcely say that no cine was obtained as to the burglars, who escaped scot free, with about £2O worth of silver plate and other valuables.- —Post Correspondent.