Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 138, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1916 — European War Makes Philadelphia Boys Thieves [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

European War Makes Philadelphia Boys Thieves

Ffc HILADELPHIA. —It Is stated that the European war is indirectly causing a I 500 per cent increase in juvenile .delinquency in the city of Philadelphia. Boys ranging in age from seven to sixteen years have been tempted by

crooked junk dealers to steal metals of all kinds to supply the demand of munition and other industrial plants. These junk men realize huge profits by selling at high prices the copper, lead, zinc and other metals which their little victims bring to them for a few cents. Bands of boys have been operating in every section of the city, despoiling empty houses, churches and shops, and snipping telephone wires. As a

result, the telephone companies have employed an additional corps of private detectives to guard their property. In the last few months nearly 200 junk dealers have been confronted by boys in the juvenile court and have been held for trial. Also 500 boys, caught with stolen goods, have been arrested, and, as an example to others, many of them have been committed to the house of detention. ■■ ■* More than SIOO,OOO in damage, it is estimated, has been done by these youthful thieves in three months, and offenses are continuing at an alarming rate Junk shops are being watched by police, and every junk dealer has' been notified that buying metals from minors constitutes a serious offense. Many of the boys brought into court declare that their “fences” have furnished them with files to cut pipes, spigots, valves, and wires.