Bold Thief Enters Home During Dinner, Steals Guest's Coat, Jan. 3, 1925

Bold Thief Robs Home Here Early at Night. . . Carried Off Overcoat from Home of E.C. Barnhardt Before 8:30 o’clock Friday Night

A thief entered the home of E.C. Barnhardt early Friday evening and carried off an overcoat belonging to C.W. Byrd, who was a dinner guest in the home, and moving from the house carried off an automobile robe from the car of E.C. Barnhardt Jr.

The theft of Mr. Byrd’s overcoat was detected about 8:30 o’clock when he prepared to leave the Barnhardt home. The overcoat had been left in the front hall of the home, together with several other coats, the thief evidently making a choice of coats before exchanging. He left his old coat, a dirty, ragged thing, on the floor near the chair where Mr. Byrd had left his coat.

A prescription, believed to have been given by a Charlotte physician, was found in the pocket of the coat left by the thief and it is hoped the thief can be traced through the prescription which was turned over to Charlotte police officers during the day.

The theft of Mr. Byrd’s overcoat was made while Mr. and Mrs. Barnhardt were entertaining at dinner. It is believed the thief scouted the premises, saw the guests in the dining room and took a chance on getting into the house without detection. He evidently exchanged overcoats while standing I the all of the house. No one heard him enter or leave the house, and his visit was not known until Mr. Byrd and the other guests prepared to leave.

The automobiles of the guests were parked in front of the Barnhardt home and the thief evidently ransacked each of them. He found the robe in Mr. Barnhardt’s car and immediately seized it, but evidently found nothing to his liking in the other cars. The upholstery in the automobile of W.M. Sherill, one of the other guests in the house, was torn but nothing was missing from the car.

Police officers were advised of the theft as soon as it was detected, but no trace of the thief was found. It is believed he was traveling in an auto and had left Concord perhaps, before the theft was detected.

In discussing this case police officers advise persons to keep doors and widows in their homes locked, even when they are at home. Persons who are accustomed to sit in the rear rooms should lock their front doors at all times, the officers stated.

From page 2 of The Concord Daily Tribune, Jan. 3, 1925

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