CAT BURGLAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 206, 13 June 1932, Page 6

CAT BURGLAR.

AUCKLAND HOUSES ENTERED.^ EARLY MORNING SURPRISES. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, June 12. A thief was surprised in two houses in the city during the early hours of this morning, and in each case managed to escape. The first olace entered was a boardinghouse in Symonds Street, near a police station." A man and his wife were suddenly awakened at 4.20 a.m. "The burglar was evidently barefooted, as he did not make the slightest noise in making his exit,", said the husband this morning. "We have a cat named Bill who often sleeps in our bedroom. When Bill wants to get out ho usually scratches at the blinds and makes a slight noise. Sometimes lie sleeps on a sachet near the dressing table. At 4.20 ,this morning my wife heard a noise and thought it was the cat, so she called.out', 'get out, Bill.' This awakened mo and, instead of the cat, I saw a man standing in front of the dressing table. He had my Avife's handbag in his hand. Before I had time to get out of bed he silently stole to the door and escaped." The handbag was worth £'3 10s. Besides £4 15s in cash, it contained a hank book and keys, including those of a safe, and other articles. At 5 a.m. the house of Mr James A. McFarlane, at 16 Domain Drive Road, was entered, but nothing was stolen, the intruder making such a ■ quick escape that he left his sand shoes on the front door mat. Mr McFarlane said he was awakened at 5 o'clock by his Alsatian dog coining to his bedside and growling. Getting out of bed, he crept along a passage to the main hall and saw a appear from another passage at the end of the hall. The intruder ran towards Mr -McFarlane, who struck him a blow on the shoulder as he passed. The man fell against the wall, but just at this moment Mr McFarlane slipped on a mat and so missed a chance of grappling with the youth who bolted out of the front door, which was open. He slammed the door behind him, shutting Mr McFarlane and his Alsatian in the house.