LABOURED IN VAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 221, 18 September 1929, Page 5

LABOURED IN VAIN.

THIEF IN LINGERIE SHOP. "UNDIES" HAD NO CHARMS. TRAPDOOR FORCED FROM CELLAR. Flimsy undies and things of crepe de chine, ninon and similar materials were tossed recklessly in every direction when a thief visited "The Norma," a new lingerie shop conducted by Mrs. W. Thode, in Queen's Arcade, off Customs Street, lest night. Evidently anything that came under the broad heading of lingerie was not at the moment .in demand, and the visitor left without carrying anything in the nature of a souvenir of the occasion. #Some of the shop stock was quite valuable, and at least £10 of dainty things could easily have been tucked up and put In a coat pocket. The thief planned his raid on quite original lines, and entered the shop by forcing a trapdoor in the cellar beneath. Evidently cash was his particular queat, for the thief dived down deep into boxes and drawers arid ransacked the shop thoroughly. He left by the front door, evidently with a feeling that a good deal of labour had been expended in vain. An attempt was made to enter the adjoining shop of Hibburt and Mitchell, Ltd., furnishers, but the trap door could not be lifted owing to a heavy wardrobe which was placed over it. The burglary was discovered by the police at 2.15 thLs morning, when the door of Mrs. Thode's shop was found wide open. The lift doors on the bottom floor of the building were found to have been strained. It is believed that the lift was used to gain entrance to the cellar.