ARTFUL JEWEL THIEF

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 29, 15 November 1935, Page 8

ARTFUL JEWEL THIEF

MAID-SERVANT DECEIVED. Southampton police failed to trace a young man avlio very artfully appropriated £IOO Avorth of jeAvellerv. Mr and Mr W. Wells, of The .Avenue, Southampton, Avere preparing to leave home with their family on a cruising holiday, and when the house Avas occupied only by a maid-seivan fc, Miss Louie Colborn, a young man Avearing a bright green open-neck shirt, .sports jacket and: navy dungarees knocked at the door and said he had come to repair the electric light. He Avas carrying a book and a bundle of wire, and when Miss Colborn said she kneAV nothing about a light fault he explained he had come in response to a telephone message. “He came inside the house,” said Miss 'Colborn, “and started switching lights on and off, talking affably all the time. “Then he went upstairs, and switching on the landing light, said: ‘ Ah, this is the one that is AVi'ong.’ Just then I heard Miss Wells, my mistress’ daughter, ccme in, so 1 AA'ent doAvnstairs.” Miss Wells, avlio met the man on the stairs, said: “He looked rather flustered, and he asked me to see the light. Removing the switch cover, he made sparks and said: ‘ It’s not dangerous, but it is just as aa ell to have it put right.’ “I told him he had better do it, and then I Avent to my .room to pack. Shortly afterwards lie said he Avould have to get some more Avire, but Avould he back in 10 minutes. As he left he said 1 ‘ GootT afternoon, miss.’ ” After he had gone the j&Avellery was missed from the drawers of a dressingtable in a bedroom.