House Safe Job Nets Burglars $200,000 Haul

May 25, 1947
Los Angeles

Next time his brother Lawrence asks if he can put a safe in his bedroom closet and fly out periodically on his private plane to rummage around in it, Archie Bardin will probably say “nix.” Archie and the missus came home from a day at the beach to find their house at 8655 Airdrome Ave. filled with smoke, a souvenir from the acetylene torch burglars had used to gain access to the floor safe after climbing through a bathroom window.

Detective Harold B. Williams asked about the safe’s contents, only to learn Archie had no clue. Whatever rested inside-cash and securities, Archie thought– was the property of brother Larry, general manager of the Indianapolis Brewing Company. A call to Indianapolis revealed the missing cabbage to number 250,000 leaves.

The missus told Detective Williams about two strange phone calls received yesterday, from an anonymous, accented caller, but otherwise clues were scarce. Police reckon the crooks knew the location and contents of the safe, which implies the answers will be found in Indiana.

Published by

Kim Cooper

Kim Cooper is the creator of 1947project, the crime-a-day time travel blog that spawned Esotouric’s popular crime bus tours, including The Real Black Dahlia. She is the author of The Kept Girl, the acclaimed historical mystery starring the young Raymond Chandler and the real-life Philip Marlowe, and of The Raymond Chandler Map of Los Angeles. With husband Richard Schave, Kim curates the Salons and forensic science seminars of LAVA- The Los Angeles Visionaries Association. When the third generation Angeleno isn’t combing old newspapers for forgotten scandals, she is a passionate advocate for historic preservation of signage, vernacular architecture and writer’s homes. Kim was for many years the editrix of Scram, a journal of unpopular culture. Her books include Fall in Love For Life, Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth, Lost in the Grooves and an oral history of Neutral Milk Hotel.

One thought on “House Safe Job Nets Burglars $200,000 Haul”

  1. Sunday, time for the book listings:

    TOP BEST
    SELLERS

    IN LOS ANGELES

    Fiction:
    “Gentleman’s Agreementâ€Â
    by Laura Hobson
    [Amazon sales rank = 534,180]
    [Number checked out from L.A. Public Library = none]

    “The Wayward Busâ€Â
    by John Steinbeck
    [Amazon sales rank = 193,496]
    [Number checked out from L.A. Public Library = none]

    “Lydia Baileyâ€Â
    by Kenneth Roberts
    [Amazon sales rank = 309,275]
    [Number checked out from L.A. Public Library = none]

    “The Left Hand Is the Dreamerâ€Â
    by Nancy Wilson Ross
    [Amazon sales rank = out of print]
    [Number checked out from L.A. Public Library = none]

    Nonfiction
    “Human Destinyâ€Â by
    Pierre Lecomte du Nouy
    [Amazon sales rank = 1,246,320]
    [Number checked out from L.A. Public Library = none]
    [Number of copies “in transitâ€Â = 1]

    “Peace of Mindâ€Â by
    Joshua Liebman
    [Amazon sales rank = 238,609]
    [Number checked out from L.A. Public Library = none]

    “Three Came Homeâ€Â by
    Agnes Newton Keith
    [Amazon sales rank = 412,153]
    [Number checked out from L.A. Public Library = none]

    “Essay on Moralsâ€Â by
    Philip Wylie
    [Amazon sales rank = 501,393]
    [Number checked out from L.A. Public Library = none]

    source: Los Angeles Times, May 25, 1947, Page C4.

    https://www.lmharnisch.com

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