CHIEF OF POLICE'S REPORT.

Police Office, New York, July 28th, 1852.

To the Honorable Members of the Board of Supervisors, of the City
of New York.

Gentlemen : I herewith present my report of the labors of
the Police Department for the fiscal year ending June 30th,
1852.

DETECTION OF CRIMINALS. 143

Much of the time and labor of our officers is devoted to the
prevention of crime by the following up of criminals, and by keep-
ing so strict a surveillance over them, that they prefer leaving
the City to submitting to it.

The increased number of arrests, 8815, compared with the
last report, 6455, being an increase of 2360, can be in a meas-
ure accounted for by the increase in population of our City, and
by the number of arrests for violation of the Sunday Law, and
of the orders of the Board of Supervisors, which, previously,
were scarcely ever enforced by arrest.

There has been a new type of crime reported. Called Confidence
Tricks, employing thieves posing as ladies and gentlemen, the
victim is usually among the City's finest citizens. Particularly
successful was a handsome gentleman in the company of an
innocent-looking woman, who has made off with seventy-eight
gold pocket watches.

Our office is burdened with the enforcement of laws relating to
traditional crimes. The emergence of this new variety will stretch
our capabilities to bursting. While this will require additional
revenues for the Department of Police, taxes need not be raised. I
would suggest to your Honorable Board the necessity of the
passage of an ordinance regulating the disposition to be made
of property which comes into the possession of the police, and
which is not claimed by lawful owners.