ATTACK ON SAFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 139, 14 June 1932, Page 9

ATTACK ON SAFE.

BURGLARS AT EPSOM. SEVERE EXPLOSION. THREE MEN OBSERVED. SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. Burglars entered the premises of the Auckland Meat Company's branch sliop at the corner of Manukau and Fairfax Roads, Epsom, between 10.30 and 11.30 last night and blew the safe with gelignite. Entrance was gained by forcing a door at the rear of the shop. The explosion was so severe that it awakened a number of residents. It is believed that three men were involved. The safe, a small one, was damaged by the explosive, which was placed in the keyhole, but tile door, after opening about an inch, jammed and could not be either closet 1 or opened. There was about £15 in the safe, which was under the counter in a small cash desk in the main shop. The cash desk is visible from Manukau Road, which is well lighted- at this spot. The cracksmen, although they could bo observed entering the shop, could not be seen working oil the safe if they bent down behind the cash desk. The burglars used a number of white coats belonging to the three employees and a. thick oilskin coat to pack round the safe to deaden the sound of the explosion. All the coats were badly damaged, some having large holes torn in the material. A number of suspicions incidents are associated with the crime. Yesterday morning a mail entered the shop in :i hurry, and on a pretext went to the ro-.i: of the premises. A boy employed at the shop noticed him surveying the whole shop. One day last week another man asked permission to use the telephone, which is situated in the cash deskjust above the safe. About 10.30 last night an apprentice employed at the shop, while cycling home, noticed three men standing in the doorway. An hour later, following a loud explosion, a passer-by, saw a man standing on the opposite side of tlie road under a verandah. The passer-by made a remark to the man. "What 'v;w that? Did you hear that explosion?"' lit; said to him. , "Yes, I suppose some joker has blown his head oil," was the reply made by the loiterer. The other suggested that they should investigate, whereupon the man said that he never interfered in other people's business, and walked away. When the shop manager was informed of the happening, he discovered that the description given of the man standing on the other side of the road was identical with that of the man who visited the shop yesterday morning. It is thought that this man had entered for the purpose of examining the premises, particularly the back entrance to the shop.