Dormitory Thief Admits $20,000 Haul in Past Year

Joseph W. Duane, who told Cambridge police he has netted close to $20,000 in the past year in 117 burglaries in College dormitories and apartment buildings around Harvard Square, is being held under $10,000 bond by Cambridge police. He was arranged yesterday morning on a charge of breaking and entering a dwelling house in the night time.

Duane was arrested in the Yard Monday after his actions had aroused the suspicions of residents of a Follen Street apartment house. He is believed responsible for a series of thefts in the Yard and Houses during the past spring.

Duane told police he entered dormitory entries and apartment buildings confident of finding at least three apartments with the door unlocked or the key in the lock. Chief of Detectives Patrick F. Ready said that Duane stole money, jewelry, watches, typewriters, cameras, and almost anything else worth money.

His technique, he said, and was to knock, then pose as a salesman if he found people in the apartments he entered. He told police he had restricted his activity to between a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset, since he knew that daytime breaking and entering was only a misdemeanor, whereas in the night it was a felony.

Captain Ready said Duane ignored the long winter nights. He was arranged on the felony charge. No grand jury will sit in Middlesex County to hear his case until early September.

Duane has been in his present line of business since youth, Captain Ready said.