THE BURGLARY EPIDEMIC.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 82, 6 April 1914, Page 7

THE BURGLARY EPIDEMIC.

SEQUEL TO JEWEL THEFT. A SUSPECT ARRESTED. With the arrest of Arthur Hamilton on Saturday afternoon on a charge of stealing large quantities of jewellery from the premises of Peter Stranberg, deceased, recently a second-hand dealer in Upper Queen Street, the police believe that they have run down a clever cracksman. Amongst the articles found in the possession of the prisoner were a number of burglars' tools, including skeleton keys, some dynamite, a jemmy, pliers, soft soap and other instruments that lead to the belief that he is an lAtmeuican of a somewhat high order. At .present he has only been charged with the one burglary, but ■ the police intimate that he will be probably at a later date charged with other I offences. At present his record outside lof Auckland is not known, and the aci cased ha 3 made no statement regarding {his identity.

The burglary with which the prisoner is charged was committed last October, when jewellery and cash to the amount of over flTOwere taken. Entrance to the premises had been apparently gained through the front door, which had been left unlocked. The safe was blown open, and large quantities of jewellery ac well as eutsh were stolen. The burglar made as clean a haul of the premises as was possible under the circumstances, and there was every indication of his 'being an adept at the game. The detective department was immediately put to work on the case, and with practically no tangible clues to act upon they set out on their long hunt for the criminal. By a process of elimination they turned their attention to Hamilton, who was well known to the police, though he has not been convicted. The work appeared very much on a par with that which they believed him capable of ■doing. Thejy consequently kept him under close supervision. Evidence was difficult to obtain, however, and the police could no nothing bat wait and watch. A few week 3 ago almost an epidemic of burglaries occurred, and suspicion once again fell on Hamilton. Late on Saturday afternoon Detectives Cumming and Quartermain, who had never failed to keep their cye3 on him, arrested Jiim near the Grey Statue..

When arrested accused 'had a large quantity of gelignite, one of the strongest explosives manufactured, as well as detonators and fuses in hie pockets.

The articles which he is accused of ■stealing consist of the following: Three gent.c gold alberts, £14 5/; 3 gold watches, £17 10/; 3 ladies , watches, 8-V; 2 Kruger sovereigns, £4; William IV. sovereign, £2 10/; sleeve links, medals, etc, £lii 15/; diamond rings, £32; about 80 assorted rings, valued at £50, as well as other articles, valued at approximately £28 IS/.