BURGLAR ALARM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 81, 7 April 1931, Page 5

BURGLAR ALARM.

PRAMATIC ARREST MADE.

(N BOWLING CLUB PAVILION.

CARETAKER, AWAKENED.

DASH BY POLICE IN MOTOR CAR,

A dramatic arrest was effected at an early hour this morning at the pavilion of the R emu era Bowling Club, Market Road, Remuera, when a powerfully-built man was caught on the premises in possession of safe-breaking implements. For some time periodical raids had been made upon the pavilion by thieves. Quite frequently lockers have been forced open, with the result that bowlers and troquet players have suffered severely through losing valuable articles. This resulted in the officials of the club fitting up a special electric burglar alarm.

The wires from the burglar alarm are connected with the residence of the caretaker and groundsman, Mr. W. M. Johnstone, who lives about 100 yards away from the pavilion. After Mr. Johnstone locks up the pavilion and returns home, he switches on the alarm. It was the burglar alarm which caused the intruder/ to be surprised in the pavilion this morning.

At 1.50 a.m. Mr. Johnstone was awakened by the ringing of the alarm bell in his house. Before dressing he telephoned the Newmarket police station and informed Constable Gaston that the alarm bell was ringing. Constable Gaston, accompanied *by Constable Olver, hufried to Market Road in a motor car, arriving at the bowling pavilion, 12 minutes after they received Johnstone's message. Creeping into the grounds silently, they examined the outside of the building,' but were unable to notice any marks showing how entrance had been gained. Mr. Johnstone then unlocked the front door of the pavilion which was in darkness.

When the two constables went inside to search for the intruder Constable Gaston opened a door leading off the passage to the right, and, flashing his torch into. the room, discovered a man crouching behind a counter. The man is alleged to have had in his hand a large carpenter's chisel. The constable immediately closed with the - intruder and arrested him. The intruder is further alleged to have had in his possession, besides the chisel, two detonators, a plug of gelignite, • putty, a length of fuse and a broken butcher's knife. No attempt had been made upon the safe.

The man arrested was James Burke, a labourer, aged 36. He appeared later before Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., charged with being a ; rogue and vagabond, found by night, without lawful excuse on the enclosed premises of the Remuera Bowling Club. He was further charged with having in his possession housebreaking implements, a chisel, gelignite, detonators and fuse. Detective -Sergeant Kelly obtained a until April 13. ■

Mr. W. Noble, who appeared for Burke, asked for bail. Mr. Kelly : I think this man would be better in gaol.

- Mr. Cutten remarked that Burke was not bailable as of right. Bail was refused.