Thieves Foiled in Attempt to Rob Sears, Roebuck Store
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Two Youths Believed to Have Plunged in River to Escape Police; Shots Fired as They Elude Pursuers
Surprised in the act of forcing their way into the Sears-Roebuck store at Bridge boulevard and Federal street, two youths escaped last night amid a burst of bullets.
Chased by an attendant of a nearby service station, the pair fled across the boulevard and were lost in the swamp along the Cooper river. Police believe they swam the river to escape.
Humphrey Toomey, 60, of 1640 South Sixth street, outside watchman of the Sears store, discovered the youths attempting to pry open a window on the north side of the building—the same window through which entrance was gained several months ago when several hundred dollars worth of merchandise was stolen.
The window is ten feet above ground. One youth was standing on the shoulders of the other, and had succeeded in removing the wire screen.
Toomey blew his police whistle, attracting the attention of Frank McClernan, of Clementon, a gas station attendant, who ran to the scene as Toomey fired one shot after the disappearing marauders.
Handing his revolver to McClernan, Toomey asked him to chase the youths. McClernan fired all four remaining bullets in the weapon after the rapidly disappearing pair, and chased them to the bank of the river where he lost them.
Meanwhile, an alarm had been sounded by Toomey, and a detail of police, headed by Lieut. Herbert Anderson, arrived and joined McClernan in the search.
McClernan said he did not think he had wounded either of the youths, who were described by Toomey as being between 16 and 20 years old. Darkness, Toomey added, made it impossible for him to describe them any further.
Although there is no electrically operated burglar alarm system in the Sear's [sic] store, there are two watchmen—one inside and the other outside.
The detectives who aided in the vain search are Robert Ashenfelter, Walter Smith, John Trout and Harry Kyler.