INTRUDERS ESCAPE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 177, 10 May 1935, Page 5

INTRUDERS ESCAPE.

disappear into bush. DISTURBED BY CHAUFFEUR. (Special to the “Guardian.”) NEW PLYMOUTH, May 8. When disturbed in the home of Mr C. H. Burgess, at Mangorei, five miles from New Plymouth, two men, who had made preparations in the mannei of the best thriller, escaped into the bush which surrounds the property, and although police and others combed the neighbourhood for several hours no trace of the marauders has been found. They were first seen m the scullery by Frank Heal, chauffeur At the same time they saw Heal and left through the dining-room and front door, which they had left open in case of emergency. Another employee at the home, L. Lane, rushed to the front of the house, but the men had left. They leaped over three low hedges, narrowly missed a glass-house, the top of which is almost at ground level, and disappeaied into the bush. Heal and Lane trailed them for some distance, but eventually lost all trace and Heal returned to the house to telephone the police. When four rings failed to secure a connection with the exchange he suspected that the wires had been cut, and lie commenced to follow the wiring, when he found a fuse had been removed, breaking the connection. The fuse was replaced and the police summoned.

Earlier two bicycles were seen beside the road at the top of a hill near the home, and some time later two bicycles, possibly the same ones, were seen at the top of Smart Road, about half a. mile across country.

It is not known whether the riders of the cycles were connected with the housebreaking, but the cycles had disappeared from the top of Smart Road when the police arrived there. Entrance to the house was gained by the men by breaking a pane of glass in the bathroom and unfastening the catch. Owing to the absence of Mr Burgess it is not yet'known if anything was taken.