TOBACCO THIEVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 6 September 1893, Page 8

TOBACCO THIEVES.

Tee shop of Mr Harry Ellison, tobacconist, afc the foot of Grey-street> was entered last night. by means o 1 a skeleton key, and about £30 or £40 worth of tobacco and cigars stolen therefrom. Mr Ellison stateß that he locked iip his shop as usual last night at ten o'clock and proceeded to his homo, leaving everything apparently safe. Upon opening the Bhop again this morning he perceived that visitors had preceded him, and.that from his window they had taken a quantity of Derby, Venus, Golden Eagle, Ruby Twist and Juno tobacco. He immediately informed the police of the fact, bub afterwards discovered that his losa was greater than he had first supposed. A box containing 500 cigars together with one containing packets of ctearebtea were also missing. The thieves were too well aware of the danger of detection to take any of the brand of cigarettes of which Mr Ellison is the maker, they helped themBelves, however, to a large pile of coppers that had been left on a Bhelf ab the back of the counter. .... This is the third tobacco shop that has been entered within the past few weeks/and it would seem that the thieves have some ready way of disposing of their spoils. Dealers would do well to be chary of purchasin" such goods from strange " travellers " as they might find themselves in tho painful position of having to forfeit the samo as stolen property. Chief Detective Grace has the case in band. ____________