NORTHERN SENSATION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10826, 22 January 1927, Page 6

NORTHERN SENSATION

BURGLARY AND FIRE. SUSPECTED YOUTH ARRESTED. (Per Press Association^ AUCKLAND, January 21. A sensational incident occurred at Panmure on Thursday evening, involving the burglary of a building followed by the destruction of the premises by fire and the apprehension of a youth in a speed boat on the Tamaki River. The loss by’ fire exceeds £IOOO, and includes the loss of the whole building and conte its of a plumber’s shop, bootmaker’s worshop, confectionary business and garage which it comprised. A sequel to the fire began at 7 o’clock this morning, when Mr A. U. Wells, a resident of Panmure, noticed that his speed boat was missing from its moorings on the river. Soon afterwards lie picked out the missing boat about two miles down the Air Wells went in pursuit in a rowing boat. When within call of the speed boat lie noticed, a youth working feverishly on the motor boat. The lad took to a dinghy on seeing Mr Wells', but the youth was captured. He was a resident of Panmure. Under the seat of tbe speed boat was a quantity of tobacco and confectionery. The speed boat was towed to Panmnre, and later the youth was arrested. The goods found in the speed boat were identified as belonging to the confectionery shop. The youth admitted breaking into the confectionery shop. He said he had a candle, but saw no sign of fire when he left. He took the speed boat, but the engine failing to go, lie dropped the anchor. The boy will appear in the Police Court to-morrow. Air D. J. Young, owner of the building and occupier of two of the shops, is a heavy loser. The premises were valued at £BSO, and only insured for £3OO. Over £SO worth of plumbing tools were burned. The confectionery shop stock was insured for £IOO. Bootmaking equipment valued at £SO was burned, and Harwood lost tools valued at £SO and not insured.