THEFT OF WATCHES.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 224, 21 September 1929, Page 21

THEFT OF WATCHES.

HAUL VALUED AT £25. JREMUERA JEWELLER'S LOSS, attempt on safe fails. The premises of Mr. J. L. Hendrcy, watchmaker and jeweller, of 99, Eemuera •Road, were burglariously entered late on Thursday night or early on Friday morning, and watches, clocks and a J number of novelties, valued at £25, were stolen. . The indications are that the tliiei was a juvenile, for children s paints left j n the shop were removed, and the marauder showed preference for nickel watches when there were silver ones offering He helped himself liberally to novelties and valuables on show in the window, but, fortunately, was unable to break open the safe, wherein a number of watches, left with Mr. Hendrey to be repaired, were locked away for safe keeping. . . The entrance to the shop, winch is m the Moulin Rouge Theatre buildings, was prized open with a marlin spike. The same instrument proved ineffective when used on the safe. Mr. Hendrey discovered las loss when he went to work at 8.30 on I'riday morning. He was surprised to find the door open, and on making investigations noticed that valuables were missing, and the safe had been draggeo behind a curtain in the workroom. '•'The safe is only a small one, but it resisted the thief," said Mr. Hendrey this morning. "I - estimate my loss at £25, but I am continually missing small articles, and it may be heavier. The watches taken were only second-hand ones that I have accumulated in the course of my business, and, fortunately, customers' property did not suffer, as I had it locked away. The thief even took the eye-glass I use in connection with my work, and some paints that my son left in the shop. It would appear that the thief was not very experienced, as he carried off nickel watches when there were silver ones available. Many articles in the window were disturbed, and several clocks that were on display were removed and left lying on the counts." Detectives are investigating the cists. The burglary has awakened business men to the need for a night patrol of the suburb, and Mr. Hendrey said that a movement was on foot to petition the Police Department in cmnection with the matter. "Remuera has now a business centre that is sufficiently large to warrant an occasional visit from a constable at night," he said.