BOY BURGLARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 214, 10 September 1934, Page 3

BOY BURGLARS.

FIREWORKS STOLEN. MASKS AND PINEAPPLES. TWO PREMISES ENTERED. Two burglaries, apparently tlie work of boys, took place during the week-end, when Melvcrns' bulk .store at the intersection of Cross and Belgium Streets, - and the farriery and coaehbuilding ( premises of <1. Paterson and Son, also . in Cross Street, were entered. That . the same thieves visited both places is i evident from the fact that tools ' recovered from Melverns's store had | been taken from Paterson's. I ; Entrance to Melvcrns' was gained by forcing a skylight. When the store was opened thii> morning the floor was • littered with the contents of eases containing fireworks, Cny Fawkes masks, 1 tins of pineapple and other goods. 1 '"There must be boy burglars about," said the manager, Mr. Sheffield. "They seemed to pay more attention to 'eats' than anything else. They prised open ' several tins of pineapple, and evidently ate the contents. Other tins they removed from the case and placed in various bins. It looks as if the same gang was at work this week-end as last, for the same class 'of children's goods was taken, with the exception of gramophone records. , We found some of the goods 'planted' in a shed on an adjoining section, and some , on tl.'O roof of our store. There we also I, found two rough home-made ladders that the burglars had taken the trouble to ' bring with them. . "It is difficult to estimate the value ; of the goods taken. Last week-end the thieves got away with about ten dozen gramophone records, but these were recovered underneath the shed next door. This morning we found a number of tools that were later claimed by Mr. Paterson from the farriery opposite." "This iis the third time within eight days that my premises have been entered ■by thieves," said Mr. Paterson. "I have no doubt that hooligan bovs are responsible. In every instance tools have been taken. It is easy to get into tho farriery at the corner of Belgium and Cross Streets, but not so ensy to gain admission to the coach painting chop in Cross Street. Why I think bovs are responsible is because they played a silly prank by dabbing with red paint a baker's delivery cart that I had in for repainting. It is difficult to say just how many tools are missing. I have recovered screw drivers, chisels, hammers and a braco and bits."