Wherever he went, Panzram stole for food, clothes, money and guns. For months during the year 1915, he traveled up and down the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest, through Washington, Idaho, Nebraska and South Dakota. Panzram was a veteran of the rails. On the night of June 1, 1915, he broke into a house in the town of Astoria, Oregon. He lifted a suit of clothes and other articles that weren't worth more than $20. He was later arrested when he tried to sell a stolen watch.