BURGLARS’ SECRET SIGNALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3253, 26 June 1911, Page 2

BURGLARS’ SECRET SIGNALS.

CRIMINALS CURIOUS CODES

Like beggars, wlio, in their house-to-house visitations, learn much which may, save a- confrere from the sting of a shrew’s tongue, a dog’s teeth, or a fortnight’s free lodging at the country’s expense, and who convey such knowledge by means of mystic signs on the walls, gateways, and doors of houses where the welcome may be lacking in Warmth, burglars use various signals by which they provide their colleagues in crime with information calculated to save time, and trouble when robbery is afoot.

“You see, it is like this,” said' an exconvict to the “T. 8.” man a few days ago. “Householders are naturally not going to warn a burglar that they keep a good dog on the premises ; that the windows are fitted with electric alarmbells, or that the police are keeping special watch on the houses in certain streets. And it is very useful to know, when you are going to crack a crib, by three marks cut in the bottom of the gate of the garden, for instance, that there is a dog to guard against; and that a little Y-shaped piece chipped off the outside window-frame means that trouble must be looked for if the window is raised. ' And when any of the boys see the wall near the gate-post chipped to form the outline of a policeman's truncheon, they are immediately on the qui vive, for it is a sign which indicates that the district is being patrolled by policemen in pairs.

INSIDE INFORMATION

“Who makes these signs? Perhaps burglars who have worked the neighborhood and have learnt all particulars, or maybe oue of tlie gang employed in the house in some capacity by false references. There are probably several reasons why he should not endeavor to communicate his knowledge to other members by letter, and to be seen with his pals while he is still employed there might ruin their plans, especially if the latter’s movements are being watched by the police. He therefore communicates his information as he gets it by certain private signals.” My informant mentioned that there were quite a number of codes in existence amongst the various gangs. As a matter of fact, each _ gang—and as a rule burglars work in gangs—invent their own secret codes of signalling in such circumstances. But there is one ingenious code known to most burglars.

WELL-KNOWN WARNINGS,

For instance, notches cut underneath the .bottom bar of the front gate out of sight, but deep enough to be counted by feeling in the dark, indicate the number of occupants. An old clay pipe broken in several bits _ indicates men and how many, and a thimble buried by tlie gate-post means women occupants only. A glass button or oy-ster-shell indicates ■diamonds or. jewels, and a piece of broken plate indicates plate. A scrap of iron warns the burglar that firearms are kept. A bone carelessly thrown in a dark corner means dog, and a torn rag or cloth shows that he is fierce. And it is a fact—which must often make burglars themselves laugh—that these signals, when a burglary has been committed, are often referred to in.the newspapers as clues to the identity of the criminals. LUCKY ESCAPES.

How valuable these signals are was strikingly illustrated by an incident related by the ex-convict already referred to. He and two other members of a. gang decided to rob a house in one of the remote corners of Surrey. They had surveyed the premises, and, a suitable opportunity occurring, they decided to do the job without waiting to get full particulars as to the precautions adopted against burglary by the inmates of the house.. Luckily—at least, for the burglars—one of the men, while opening the outside gate in the dark, laid his hand on the gate-post, on the top of which had heen cut a rough diagram of a jemmy. He at once recognised it as a signal adopted by another gang to warn tlie men that it was no good.trying to uoe jemmies to force anything, _ However, the burglars proceeded warily, and effected an entrance through the skylight of the greenhouse attached. Bug left a way open for retreat, and it was fortunate for them that they did so, for no sooner did they attempt to enter the house from the door inside the greenhouse than electric-bells gave the alarm, and they hurriedly decamped. They afterwards learnt that the house was occupied by a retired soldier, who had an armory of weapons and a dozen and one ingenious devices ready to give any burglars who might get into the house a very warm reception.