#break ins

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Two Years In Penitentiary," Niagara Falls Review. October 21, 1943. Page 1 & 3. ---- Herbert Irvine admits breaking and entering ---- Herbert Irvine, twenty, of 628 Park Street, was sentenced to Kingston Penitentiary for two years, by Magistrate John B. Hopkins today, when he pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering Damato's restaurant on Highway No. 8 on Oct. 3, and stealing a cash register from the premises.

He also pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and entering Hansell's pool room, Bridge Street, on Oct. 4th, and Hatter's Drug Store on Sept. 29th, and was given the same sentence on these charge, all to run concurrently.

Ivine's seventeen-year-old brother, Claude Irvine, was given suspended sentence on payment of $18 costs, when he pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering Allan's garage on the night of Oct. 15th.

Wendell M. Musgrove K.C., defence counsel for the brothers, and Crown Attorney Harry W. Macoomb K.C., conducted the prosecution.

At the beginning of Herbert Irvine's trial he pleaded not guilty to the charges of breaking into Damato's and stealing the cash register, but after testimony had been given by Provincial Constables Chambers and Pope he changed his plea to "guilty." The officers testified that they found the cash register in the ditch, and after an investigation arrested Irvine and a companion. They found in Irvine's possession, they said a quantity of silver totalling $14.98, and two keys, one which fitted the padlock on the front door of Demato's restaurant and the other fitted the cash register. When the padlock was produced in court and it was found the key bore the same number as the lock. Mr. Musgrove advised his client to change his plea to "guilty" and this was done.

Constable William Collins testifled in the case of Claude Irvine that he was posted inside Allen's garage on the night of Oct 15th, when he heard a glass window broken and saw the accused put his arm through the opening. The officer immediately arrested him, he said.

[AL: Irvine had never been in the penitentiary before, but had served a term in the provincial reformatory. He was a steeple jack. At Kingston Penitentiary, he was convict #7484 and worked in the broom factory. A well-behaved prisoner, he was transferred to low security in January 1944 and released in early 1945.]

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"3 Hotel Room Bandits Jailed," Winnipeg Tribune. September 22, 1943. Page 13. --- Penitentiary sentences of three years each were imposed in county court today by Judge Whitla upon Joseph Harold Ireland, 33 Hargrave st., and James Grant, Ste. 2 St. Mary's court.

The two men were convicted for breaking and entering the rooms of guests in several local hotels with intent to steal.

Janet Ruth Grant, also of Ste. 2 St. Mary's court, was sentenced to two years less one day in the Portage la Prairie jail for women. She was convicted for breaking and entering the room of Charles Fall's, Marlborough hotel guest, on June 16, with intent to steal.

In addition to breaking into hotel rooms, the men also were found guilty of attempting to break and enter the store of Ritchie McMillian, druggist, in the Medical Arts bldg. Both have long police records.

In future, said Judge Whitla, such offenses would be dealt with more severely.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"PRISON TERMS INFLICTED UPON CONVICTED MEN," Hamilton Spectator. August 16, 1943. Page 12. --- Joseph Shearer, Wilfred Swick Sentenced By Judge Schwenger --- TWO TO FIVE YEARS ----- Prison terms ranging from two to five years were imposed upon three convicted men when they appeared before His Honour Judge W. F. Schwenger in county judge's criminal court here this morning.

A plea of guilty on eight charges of theft and break-ins ranging throughout various townships of the county was entered by Joseph Shearer, 32, and Wilfred Swick, 27 years [TOP PICTURE]. An additional charge of breaking and entering Waterdown High school on March 21 and the theft of money and war savings stamps was read against Shearer, to which he pleaded guilty.

Passing sentence of five years in the penitentiary on Shearer, His Honour said that he was taking into account previous convictions against the accused as well as a sentence which the accused is now serving. Three years in the penitentiary was passed upon Swick, who is also serving a previous sentence passed on him at St. Catharines. Both sentences will run concurrently with those now being served and will date from to-day.

Two years in the penitentiary was the sentence passed on John M. McKenna, 40 years, [BOTTOM PICTURE] when he appeared before His Honour on charges of theft of a man's suit-coat and contents, McKenna pleaded not guilty to the charge and maintained that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time and did not know what had happened. McKenna was released only a few days before his arrest on July 30, after serving two years in the Kingston penitentiary on a similar charge.

[AL: Both Shearer and Swick were also wanted in Milton and Simcoe, Ontario, and had additional five year and three year concurrent terms added to their sentences. Shearer was 32, married, from Hamilton, a construction welder, and had served 5 previous terms in the Ontario reformatory. Convict #7428, and a bad disciplinary issue to staff, he was transferred with dozens of other inmates west to Saskatchewan Penitentiary. There, he was inmate #4298 and worked in the brick shop. He was released from there in 1948.

Swick had no previous criminal record, despite the newspaper report. He was single, 27, a truck driver, of Dutch descent, and listed his drinking habits as intemperate in the police report. He was convict #7429 at Kingston Penitentiary, and worked in the military broom factory. With no reports, he was transferred January 1944 to Collin's Bay (minimum security) and released by parole in February 1945. McKenna was 42, single, born of Scottish immigrant parents, and unemployed and freshly out of prison when arrested in August 1943. He had a very long criminal record, including three previous convictions at the penitentiary, 10 terms in provincial reformatory, and 10 terms in local jails, for a total of 15 years, 7 months behind bars. He was convict #7404 at Kingston Penitentiary this time around, and worked mostly as a cleaner and messenger in the prison. Despite having a mostly spotless disciplinary record, he was not released until March 1945. He died shortly thereafter in Hamilton.]

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Une série des vols en fin de semaine," La Presse. June 19, 1933. Page 3. --- Les postes de police suivants ont reçu les plaintes que voici en fin de semaine: 4 - Mme M. Schwaltz, 3587 DeBullion, s'est fait voler samedi après- midi, dans un entrepôt situé sous la maison, des fourrures, renards, martres de roche, etc., au montant de $500. Les voleurs avaient brisé les cadenas.

1 - A 5 h. 50, hier après midi, les constables Campeau et Boursier, dépéchés par le sergent Vézina au magasin Leduc et Legault, 911 Ermine, y trouvèrent le sergent-détective Lum, de la radio-police, qui venait d'arriver aussi après qu'on eut-signalé un vol. Dans leur fuite, les voleurs laissèrent sur le trottoir 5 raquettes de tennis, un gant et 40 protecteurs de hockey. Les propriétaires, prévenus, ont recouvre leur marchandise.

10 - Patigués d'avoir tant travaillé à défaire la poignée, la serrure et, les pentures du coffre-fort, des voleurs se sont attaqués à la caisse enregistreuse chez Besner Ltd. boucher. 1609 Sainte-Catherine ouest, entre 11 h. 15 p.m. samedi et 11 h. 45 hier matin. Ils y ont pris 95 cents, déclare M. Harry Besner.

10 - Entre minuit la veille et 10 a.m. hier, des voleurs se sont introduits par un puits de lumière dans la pharmacie Fletcher Ltd, 1323 Ste-Catherine ouest, et ont pris du chocolat, des lames de rasoir, des parfums et divers articles pour un montant encore indéterminé. M. Lambley a porté plainte.

28 - Rupert Ward, 370 Lebrun, a prévenu le sergent-détective Boucher, de la radio-police, et le constable Lemaire, hier, à 7 h. p.m., qu'entre 3 et 5 h. p.m., on a pénétré chez lui à l'aide de fausses clefs et volé des bijoux et des vêtements pour un mon- tant de $200.

20 - S. Edel, commis-voyageur, 4702 Queen Mary Road, ayant laissé son auto stationné rue Clarke, des inconnus en brisèrent la serrure de porte et lui enlevèrent quatre mallettes d'échantillons de vêtements valant $150.

[thekricks0krickass]

once i broke into someones house to read their diary

umm , yeah

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"CHIEF URGES MORE CARE BY HOUSEHOLDERS,” Border Cities Star. August 26, 1921. Page 3. ---- Sneak Thieves Giving Police Department Trouble ---- Five Petty Thefts Are Reported During Last 48 Hours ---- Sneak thieves who carry out most of their ventures in broad daylight are giving Windsor trouble. and a warning is sounded to householder by Chief Daniel Thompson in a statement to The Star today. "The majority of the thefts could be avoided if the residents would be more careful," he said. 

“When only one person is in a house during the afternoon hours, at least the back door should be kept locked. Valuables shouldn't be left lying on dressers or other place where the thief can easily find them,” the chief said. 

Within the 48 hours ending at 3 o’clock this morning, five occurrence of sneak thievery and other thefts were reported at police headquarters.

Family Home, Thief Works The sneak thief who stole $19 from the home of John Burridge. 494 Wyandotte street, entered the house in broad daylight while members of the family went upstairs for a few minutes. This occurred at 4 o'clock Thursday afternoon. 

One hundred and fifty dollars fell into the hands of a sneak thief who walked into the home of Thomas Davis, 214 Victoria avenue, securing the money from the pocket of a vest hanging on a hook. This happened between 2 and 4 p.m. Thursday. 

Dr. R. D. Morand, Allen Theatre building, reported the theft of a fan worth $36 from his office Thursday afternoon. 

Steal Wicker Chair Midnight prowlers carried away a wicker chair and wicker table which had been left on the veranda at the home of John H. Wray. 1200 Victoria avenue. 

Burglars shortly before midnight gained entrance, police believe, to the home of Joseph Breault, 317, Langlois avenue, by breaking the window leading to the dining room. They were probably frightened away on the arrival home of member of the family, police said. Nothing was missing. 

The gas and spark control apparatus on an automobile owned by W. Jackson, 438 Erie street east, was stolen while the machine was parked in front of the owner residence Thursday night. 

Auto thieves continue to give the police trouble, and Chief Daniel Thompson asks all owners to see that their car are properly locked when they leave them parked on city streets. Thursday police were asked to find two machines which hag been driven away by thieves. One was owned by John Millen, 564 Sandwich street. Sandwich. This was later recovered on a city by the owner, where it had evidently been abandoned by joyriders. The other machine, owned by J. F. Knowhen. residing at the corner of Ottawa and Moy avenue, was stolen in Detroit.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“FINGERTIPS ARE CAUSE OF ARREST,” North Bay Nugget. April 22, 1940. Page 3. ---- Chiswick Man Surrenders on Learning Police Sought Him --- Finger prints found on the glass of tha cashiers wicket of the C.N.R. station at Powassan following a break-in last August brought the apprehension of Arthur Barbe, aged 24 of Chiswick, Sunday night. Surrendered Here Barbe walked into the city police office Sunday evening and gave himself up. He said he had heard police were seeking him. Today, he pleaded guilty to charges of breaking and entering the railway station and the Powassan office of the Trout Creek Lumber Company. He was remanded in custody one week for sentence. Investigator Thomas Church of the C.N.R., said cash amounting to only about 40 cents was taken in the railway break-in which occured on August 1, last year. An even smaller amount was stolen in the break-in of the lumber company office.

The only clues to the theft were the finger prints of the thief which were found on the glass window of the ticket offices. The Investigators sent a copy of the prints to the RCMP identification bureau in Ottawa without success. 

It was not until about a month ago when Barbe was arrested in Tlmmins for allegedly breaking into a church that the Powassan break-ins were solved. The man was given e dismissal on the Timmins case it was reported but his finger prints were sent to Ottawa and Identified with those found In Powassan. 

A warrant for Barba'a arrest was obtained but police found no trace of him until he gave himself up Sunday evening.

Investigator Church said both the station and the lumber office were entered after windows had been forced. A few cents left in the till at the station were stolen. Constable William Holtforster of Powassan said stamps and coppers amounting to only a few cents were the only lot in the second break-in. Although the finger prints found in the ticket office were identified as those of Barbe several weeks, no action was taken immediately. Mr Church said he obtained a warrant for the man's arrest but did not Institute a search for him. Barbe apparently learned he was sought by police in North Bay when he visited his home at Chiswick recently.

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“Stiff Jail Terms Given to Youths,” Windsor Star. March 25, 1939. Page 9. ---- STRATFORD, March 25. - Two young men drew down stiff prison terms when they pleaded guilty in police court yesterday to a series of charges involving two break-ins, theft of a car, and theft of license plates.

The two were Charles Westbrook, 20, Brantford, sentenced to two years and six months in Kingston penitentiary, and Wilfred Roberts, 21, Listowel, sentenced to two years less a day with an indeterminate period of not more than six months thereafter in an Ontario reformatory. The terms on each charge run concurrently.

[AL: Westbrook’s more serious sentence sees to be because he had previously been in the reformatory and jail, unlike Roberts. Westbrook was from Brantford, a farm labourer, unemployed at time of conviction, and a Catholic. At Kingston Penitentiary he was part of the young convicts work gang, who mostly worked in the garage and at vocational training, and were celled in a special prison unit called the North-West Cell Block. He was released back to his parents care in Brantfird in February, 1941.]