Back in 1895, a notorious Parisian thief wrote a handbook on how to rob and steal. Sort of like the Anarchist Cookbook of the 1970s, this thieve’s handbook was nothing but trouble for both the establishment and thieves everywhere.
The Thieves’ Textbook
A French Criminal Describes the Fine Art of Burglary
There has come into the hands of the Parisian police a copy of a book bearing the title “Manuel du Parfait Voleur dans les Environs de Paris,” literally, “Manual of the Perfect Thief in the Environs of Paris,” says the New York World. This interesting work was written by the chief of a gang of burglars and is intensely practical. It treats of the most successful and approved ways of “cracking” country houses.
The introduction contains this statement: “The environs of Paris are divided into four sections, each of which is controlled by a band of burglars, having its own center of operations and never passing beyond the boundaries allotted to it, as in that case it would seriously interfere with the work of the band operating in the neighboring section.” The “Manuel” explains how each band procures detailed information regarding the villa which it has marked for pillage. Some local real estate agent is visited by one of the burglars in the guise of a man seeking a desirable house for his family. Several chapters describe the best methods of disposing stolen goods and how to prepare them so as to prevent their identification.
The author of the book, though long suspected, had been able to elude the police for many years, but soon after a copy of his work came into their possession he himself was taken red handed. He gave the police much useful information, however, which resulted in the incarceration of many of his comrades, and so escaped with a light sentence, though on his release it is likely that unless he emigrates his career will be cut short by a knife or revolver in the hands of some of his former associates. He is a man of excellent family, received a fine education and once served in the French army.
[Source: White Oaks Eagle newspaper. December 19, 1895.]
