MAID TERRIFIED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 1, 2 January 1934, Page 8

MAID TERRIFIED.

THIEVES IN HOUSE. RAIDS ON REMUERA HOMES. CLOTHING AND JEWELLERY, Terrified, a maid sat locked in her bedroom with the sound of thieves around her at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. S. Malcolm, 15, Victoria Avenue, on Friday flight. She was too afraid to move and ring for the poiice in ease she should disturb the thieves and be assaulted. She waited for an hour and a quarter for the return of her employers. In the meantime the thieves escaped with stolen goods out of a French window at the front of the house. The maid arrived home about 11.45 p.m. As soon as she got to her room she found that thieves had been at work, for the room had been ransacked. Then she heard noises upstairs. She locked her door and waited. She heard movements in other parts of the house. When Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm arrived home about one o'clock they found that their home had been carefully ransacked. Drawers had been turned out and clothes pulled from wardrobes. The thieves made a strange selection. They stole men's collars, towels, a kettle, a rug, a suitcase, a box of soap and a valuable gold wristlet watch. Careful preparations were made by the thieves. They went under the house and brought out an old table, which they placed on the ground at the back. They also took out a step-ladder from the basement and placed this on the table, and by this means one of them apparently climbed in through the maid's room window and opened a pair of French <loors in preparation for a quick escape. Jewellery Stolen. Jewellery valued at over £25 was i-tolen from the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Cording, 5, Tirohanga Avenue, off Victoria Avenue. The burglary was carried out on Saturday night, and the house ir> not far from the home of the ' Malcolms which was raided the previous evening. By smashing a glass panel in the back door, and slipping a hand through to turn the lock, the thief entered the house and ransacked every I room. Several pieces of jewellery and j a small sum of money were stolen. I Preparations had also apparently been , made to steal linen, for a considerable I quantity was found ready packed. Haul Worth £50. Greatest success for the thieves who are carrying out raids 011 Rcintiera homes came at a house at 4, Lucerne Road, where clothes, Jewellery and money of a total value of £50 were stolen. The owners of the house are convinced' that the thieves were hiding 011 an upstairs balcony while they changed early last evening to go out for dinner.

Tlie owners arrived home from the races about 6 o'clock, made a quick change and went out again about 0.30. When they returned about 11 o'clock, they found that the place had- been ransacked. The thieves had broken in through a French window at the side of the house, and had carried out a most carelul search. Valuable jewellery and £5 in money besides a whole wardrobe of expensive su.nmer frocks were stolen. There were indications that several frocks had been tried on. They were found inside-out tossed back into a wardrobe. An expensive coat and a tailored costume were among the missing clothes. r Thieves Have a Party. Traces of a bright New Year party were left by thieves who broke into tlie home of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Evans, 00, Great South Road, on Sunday night. Scraps of cake and empty bottles of soft drink were found in the kitchen, and two of the beds appeared to have been slept in. Agaiii the "job"' gave indications that a woman had been at work. Frocks bad obviously been tried on, and some of them had been split under the arms. Powder had been scattered all over the floor as though it had been thrown about. i Residents next door discovered . next morning that the house had been entered. Entrance had been gained by reaching through a fanlight and opening a window. The owners were away, but when they returned they found* that nothing had been stolen.