pon discovering the basement
door of a residence ajar, one of them takes position at it, while the
other ascends the front steps and rings the bell. As soon as the servant
has gone up from the basement to answer the bell, the thief at the lower
door slips in, and gathers up the silver or such other articles as he can
lay his hands upon. Again, selecting the dinner hour, which is usually
between six and seven o'clock, and operating in the winter season when
the streets are dark at that hour, one of the thieves will remain on the
side-walk, on the lookout for the police, while the other climbs up a
pillar of the stoop and reaches the level of the second story window.
The window fastenings offer but a feeble resistance, and he is soon in
the room. The family being all at dinner in the lower part of the house,
the entire mansion is open to him. Securing his plunder, he leaves the
house as he entered it, and makes off with his confederate. Some of the
wealthiest mansions in the city have been robbed in this way, and heavy
losses in jewelry, furs, and clothing have been entailed upon
householders in all localities. Sometimes the thief has a confederate in
the servant girl, but professionals do not often trust this class, who
are always ready to betray them at the slightest indication of danger.

II. THE PICK-POCKETS.

The activity of the pick-pockets of New York is very great, and they
oftentimes make large "hauls" in the practice of their trade. It is said
that there are about 300 of them in the city, though the detectives state
their belief that the number is really larger and increasing. Scarcely a
day passes without the police authorities receiving numerous complaints
from respectable persons of losses by pick-pockets.

On all the street cars, you will see the sign, "_Beware of
Pick-pockets!_" posted conspicuously, for the purpose of warning
passengers. These wretches work in gangs of two, or three or four. They
make their way into crowded cars, and rarely leave them without bringing
away something of value. An officer will recognize them at once. He
sees a well-known pickpocket obstructing the car entrance; another
pickpocket is abusing him in the sharpest terms for doing so, while, at
the same time, he is eagerly assisting a respectable gentleman, or a
well-dressed lady, to pass the obstruction. One or two other
pick-pockets stand near. All this is as intelligible to a police officer
as the letter