TWO ROBBERIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 78, 3 April 1939, Page 10

TWO ROBBERIES.

DARING THIEVES.

HOLES BORED IN DOORS.

£22 Ilf CASH REMOVED.

Thieves were operating in the city during the week-end when two premise's were entere din daring manner and sums of money stolen. In one instance, a robbery at the clothing factory of Mr. Jack Robinson, a wholesale manufacturer, on the first floor of HaiwhM Buildings, 102, Albert Street, the crime was carried out on Saturday afternoon. In the cose of the Olympic Sports Olub. •St. James 5 Building, 312, Queen Street, it as not known when the robbery was committed.

In both instances the thieves used &aws and a brace and bit to cut their way through doors. When Mr. Jack Robinson paid a visit to his factory yesterday morning at 10 o'clock he found that a hole a/bout 14 inches i n circumference had been backed out of the door leading to the showroom, fitting rooms and office. The door itself wae securely locked just as he had left it at midday on Saturday. Unable to release the burglar-proof lock on the inside the thtef had to squeeze through the small aperture he had cut in the door and leave by the same hole. No clothing was stolen, but a cashbox left in the office was rifled and the contents, £17 in cash stolen. A cheque for £50 was left behind. Caller On Saturday. Mr. Robinson believes that the robbery was done late on Saturday afternoon. "Mr. Moses Hannah, an elderly man who lives on the ground floor of the building, answered a knock at the front door between 4 and 5 o'clock on Satiuday afternoon," said Mr. Robinson this morning. '•He found a young man who said he wanted to see me. Mr. Haunah told him that I was not in the factory which was closed up. But the caller told him that he knew I was there as he had just been speaking to me on the phone. Mr. Hannah then let him in thinking that I was really in the factory. He did not see him again,, nor did he hear anything to cause him to be suspicious." Hole Cut In Wall. The thieves who broke into the Olympic Sports Olub in St. James' Building were evidently determined for they first had to cut a Dole through the w.ill of the building on the first floor and then walk downstairs to the basement where the club is situated, and then bore dozens of holes in the door leading to the billiard room. A half-inch bit was used to do the boring. Two large holee were made above and below the patent lock allowing the thief to insert his hand and release the lock from the inside. Once inside the thief, or thieves made their way to the office of the proprietor, Mr. M. S. O'Connor, where they stole the complete stock of cigarettes and about £5 in cash.

Both cases are being investigated by detectives.