CHAIN OF ROBBERIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 82, 8 April 1926, Page 7

CHAIN OF ROBBERIES.

DARGAVILLE TO KOHUKOHU.

SEVERAL STORES ENTERED

EXTENSIVE ROBBERIES REPORTED.

THREE MEN ARRESTED.

(By T«legrip_.~-Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI, this day,

A few weeks ago three men set out from Auckland on a tour of the north. They arrived at Dargaville, and, it ia alleged, broke into the Farmers' Trading Company's store and replenished their stock of necessaries to the extent of about £8. It appears they came through from Dargaville to Hikurangi, and made an attempt on the safe of the Farmers' Trading Company's store in that township. The attempt wag unsuccessful. Their next stage, apparently, was Taheke, Hokianga, as the store there was raided. An attempt was also made to blow open the safe, but this was a failure.

AVaima was also visited, but the safe of the store, which was raided, also resisted effort* made with gelignite to force it open. The trio, it seems, next converted » boat to their own use and rowed from Waima to Kohukohu, where Messrs. Andrews and Sons' store was entered somewhere between Good Friday and Easter Monday, but probably on Sunday. An attempt on the safe was successful, and the raiders got away with cash consisting of notes, mixed silver, cheques and various goods amounting in all to between £150 and £200. Nothing was then known concerning the perpetrators of these raids.

Inspector Hollis, of Whangarei, waa communicated with, and the police in surrounding districts were informed as to what had happened. As a result three well-known criminals named Brasling, Sainsbury, and Arrow were arrested yesterday by Constable A. E. Bissett, of the Kaitaia police. The arrest was a particularly smart one.

The three men were charged to-day at Kaitaia and remanded to Whangarei to be charged in connection with Dargaville and Hikurangi offences. Detective de Norville has been dispatched to Hokianga to investigate the complaints made in that district. All the police concerned, said Inspector Hollis this morning, were to be commended for the manner in which they had assisted in effecting the arrest.