The safe in the office of the Pacific Fruit and Produce Company's local branch warehouse was blown wide open last night and about $10 in cash was obtained by the cracksmen, who made their getaway without leaving any substantial clues for the sheriff's office and police to follow.
    It is believed by manager Billings that the robbers were hoboes as several were seen lurking about the plant yesterday and as there are at the present time a number of vagrants in the city, en route north on their seasonal pilgrimage.
    The safe was completely wrecked, and although the crack around the edge of the door was filled with "soup" in a professional manner, it is believed that the job was done by amateurs, for had they been professionals they would have tackled something worthwhile, according to Sheriff Terrill.
    The robbery took place sometime after midnight last night and the thieves gained entrance to the building by tearing the lock from the main doors.
    Deputy L. D. Forncrook was on the job this morning with his fingerprint apparatus and everything in the office was given a close examination for the telltale marks.
    A box of dates was opened and a number of packages of the toothsome dainties were taken by the thieves before they departed from the scene of their depredations.

    Reddy's jewelry store has just installed a new Cary safe, one of the very latest types, and can now positively assure their patrons safety for their valuables. This safe, according to Mr. Schade, has a 108-hour guarantee against any kind of forced entrance. It is burglar- and fireproof and weighs approximately 5000 pounds.
    Reddy's store is making every possible effort to perfect their service to customers. The installation of the new Cary safe is made necessary by increased business and is a part of Reddy's improved service for patrons.
Medford Mail Tribune, August 2, 1923, page 6


    Following the holdup of the Colonial Garage late last Tuesday night, the first safeblowing in this city for many months took place at 1:30 o'clock last night when two unknown yeggs blew the safe in the pool room, cigar store and barber shop of Rankin Estes at 17 South Front Street, almost under the nose of two night patrolmen about 200 feet away, and hurried away with $325 in bills, change and some checks, overlooking in their anxiety to leave the vicinity a package of $300. The same criminals may have done both jobs.
    The safeblowers used nitroglycerin on the safe, which was completely wrecked by the too-heavy charge, they having evidently thought that the small safe was of much heavier construction. Neither was a blanket or other covering placed over the safe to deaden the sound.
    The blast not only wrecked the safe but a show case that stood a few feet in front of the safe, which was located in the northwest corner, back of the counter and next the street window. The job was a bold one. Immediately following the discharge the burglars, who had gained entrance to the place by forcing the lock of the front door, seized the metal money drawers still in the safe, or blown outside with some cash, and ran through the room, leaving by the rear door, which they had taken the precaution to unlock for a quick getaway.
    They dropped some cash and other contents of the boxes in their flight, and two men were seen going out the rear alley to Central Avenue, who were later traced as far as South Riverside by cash slips and other things they had spilled from the boxes as they ran.
    In their hurry the burglars neglected to take the metal box, containing $300, the property of Shorty Roberts, who is Mr. Rankin's clerk, and who had that box for his own money and papers. They must have seen the box lying there, but perhaps thought it was of no consequence.
    Night Patrolmen Prescott and Liggett had just met at the Nash Hotel corner a few minutes before the safe blowing, and were about to separate and resume their patrolling by different routes when they heard the explosion. They quickly stepped to the corner and looked all around to see where the noise came from, and on looking south on Front Street one of them got a flash of what he thought was a man's head peering out from the front entrance of the Estes place about 200 feet away. This was probably one of the two safeblowers acting as lookout while his companions was gathering up the plunder.
    The officers at once ran to investigate and found the front door open and the safe wrecked. No one was in sight. The officers started in pursuit out the back way, taking different routes, but could get no sight of the criminals.
    The burglars before they blew the safe had gathered up some candy to take away with them, which was later found on the rear counter ledge. The small bottle which had contained the "soup" or nitroglycerin was still lying on the rear of the safe today.
    The holdup of the Colonial Garage, corner of Sixth and Ivy streets, back of the Hotel Medford, took place last Tuesday night about 11 o'clock. The night man in charge, C. L. Daily, was alone at the time when two men entered, covered him with revolvers, and demanded that he get the money from the cash register, Daily relates. He quickly complied and handed the thugs the $30, as not much money is kept in the garage during the night. Then men then quickly disappeared and the affair was reported to the police.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 28, 1924, page 1


    The safes in the offices of two Medford establishments on the outskirts of the business district were broken into some time during last night by burglars, who hardly realized more than lunch money by their hard work. They first visited the office of the Medford Lumber Company, corner 4th and Fir streets, gained entrance by prying open a door, and then with a heavy hammer and chisel broke open the safe, taking its contents, $35.
    Then entrance was gained the same way to the office of the Medford Planing Mill, Fir and 11th streets, and by the same method the safe was broken into and $9.75 taken.
    In breaking into the Medford Lumber Company safe the burglars went to much unnecessary trouble, for the safe was unlocked, though closed, but did not bear a sign to the effect that it was unlocked. It was not until they had knocked the combination lock off the safe and the door flew open that the burglars realized that they had been in too much of a hurry.
    The hammer and chisel, which they left behind, are in the possession of the police and may lead to their capture as the police, Maurice Coturri, the Southern Pacific special agent, Sheriff Terrill and Deputy Sheriff Forncrook, who examined the tools at the police station today, think the work was that of amateurs.
Medford Mail Tribune, October 15, 1924, page 1