GROCERY ENTERED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 206, 13 June 1931, Page 7

GROCERY ENTERED.

BURGLARY AT CHRISTCHURCH. THIEVES TAKE CIGARETTES. (Special to “The Guardian”). CHRISTCHURCH, June 12. Well-planned and executed, a burglary at the Lower Riccarton shop of the Self-Help Co-op., Ltd., last evening was unsuccessful only’ in that there had been no money left on the premises. When the thieves left they took with them about £1 worth of cigarettes. They left behind a trail of blood-stains, evidently front one of the thieves yylio had cut liis hand in the attempt. The store, which is in the block of shops at the comer of Riccarton. and Straven Roads, has a row of headlights above the flat verandah in front. The thieves mounted on to the roof of the verandah with the aid of a convenient telegraph post, and broke an entrance under its shade. The opening of the headlight proved too small so the thieves smashed the glass and forced their way in through the small opening thus made. They did not do it unscathed, however. A pool of blood on the roof of the verandah was apparently a result of the breaking of the and the line of blood spots showed the trail followed by the thieves. It led immediately to the cash register, which, however, was open and empty. The thieves showed a knowledge oi the premises in their subsequent search. They went straight to two hiding places occasionally used by the manager of the shop. However, again they were disappointed, as there was nothing there. After rifling the shell of tobacco, they then left by the back door, which was found open this morning. None of the other shops in the locality was touched.