POSTAL THEFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 12

POSTAL THEFTS

BOXES BROKEN OPEN OFFENCES IN SUBURBS OTAHUHU AND PAPATOETOE SOME LETTERS RECOVERED Fivo postal boxes in the Otahuhu and Papatoetoe districts were broken open and rifled of their contents early yesterday morning. In each case the lock was broken, and it is thought possible that tho thieves used a motor vehicle in making a round of the more accessiblo boxes in tho distiict. A broken postal box at Papatoetoe was discovered by a shopkeeper a ou six o'clock yesterday morninfi. He informed the police, who made an inspection and found that two other boxes in tho district had been similarly tampered with. It was learned later that two boxes in the Otahuhu district had also been forced open. Tho boxes had last been officially cleared about four o'clock on J.hursday afternoon. Another clearance was duo at 6.30 o'clock yesterday morning. It is thought that comparatively few letters were stolen, however, as tho lato afternoon and evening postings are not as a rule heavy. Inquiries supported the belief that the number of letters stolen was not large. The assistance of detectives i' l tracing th<» thieves was enlisted, and an inquiry continued throughout the day. A number of letters, evidently among those stolen, was found in the district. ■f Auckland has enjoyed comparative freedom from post-box thefts lor some time. There was a series of such offences some years ago, coinciding with tho breaking open of many stampvending machines.