THIEVES BUSY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 10

THIEVES BUSY.

HOUSES ENTERED.

IN POiMSONBY AND GRAFTON. SURPRISE IN NEWMARKET. Thieves are again active in tlie city and suburbs. On Thursday afternoon a house in Ilackett Street was entered, whon a suit and a pair of shoes were stolen, while last night a flat in Grafton Road was entered, the sum of £3 being taken by the thief from a purse in a bedroom. While trying to enter a house in Newmarket at six o'clock-last night a thief was disturbed and made off.

During tho absence of a woman from her home in Ilackett Street, -Ponsonby, between 1.30 and 3.30 on Thursday afternoon, a burglar entered by a side window and after ransacking three bedrooms, stole a suit of clothes and a pair of shoes. Yesterday the police traced the stolen property and recovered it. A mail who was arrested early this morning on another charge, is suspected by the police. Last evening a block, of flats in Grafton Road was entered by a thief, who managed to gain admission to one flat and stole £3 in money from a handbag left in a drawer. Thief Disturbed? "Never mind, I will ring her up," said a man when asked by a young woman what he was doing at the window of a room of Mrs. I. E. Sweetapple's home in George Street, Newmarket, at six o'clock last evening. Miss McGregor, who lives next door to Mrs. Swectapple, was returning home, and when passing the gate of Mrs. Sweetapple's house she saw a mail apparently just about to climb through the fanlight. She asked him what he was doing. The man said he was "looking for a key to get . in and get a parcel." "That's a funny place to look for a parcel," said Miss McGregor. The man replied, "Never mind, I will ring her up," and then made off. An examination showed that the top part of a skylight had been opened and the curtains pushed aside. Apparently the man had been disturbed while in the act of entering Airs. Sweetapple's residence.

It wae through the eame fanlight, about two or three years ago, that a burglar entered and stole gold and silver racing cups and trophies won on the turf by Mrs. Sweetapple. Jewellery was also stolen on that occasion, the total amount of the booty being £1000. Mrs. Sweetapple had a portion of her valuables returned to her, but all her best cups had been melted down by the dealer to whom the thief Bold the proceeds.