SERIES OF BURGLARIES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9521, 14 September 1896, Page 3

SERIES OF BURGLARIES.

SEVERAL SHOPS BROIOEN INTO. Several burglaries are reported, and it would seem as if there was a gang at work, but fortunately their efforts have hot resulted in obtaining much plunder. On Thursday night the premises of Messrs Ashby, Bergh and Co., ironmongers, High street, wore entered from one of the upper storey windows at the back, the burglars first getting on to the roof of the office, and from thence on to a window sil). The window was protected by light bars, but two of these were forced apart so as to allow a person to pass through. Nine watches and about £1 worth of silver were missed, and a sewing machine was damaged through its being knocked over and falling down the well on to the lower floor. On Friday night an attempt was made to enter the premises of Messrs E. Recce and Sons, ironmongers, Colombo street, in a similar way. The burglars got on to the roof of the back part of the retail premises, which is only one storey high, and by the aid of snow boards, which were found in the gutters, they mounted to the back windows of the upper storey over the front part of the shop. Two of the windows were found open next moraine-, but as the openings were protected by strong bars no entry could be effected. They were more successful at Mr W. Congreve's, ironmonger, a few doors away, where they broke a pane of glass in a back window, and, opening the sash, got into the building. All that has been missed, however, is about 10s worth of stamps from Mr Copgreve's office. It is also i-eported that the premises of Messrs J. Ballantyne and Co., drapers, were entered on the same night, and about £2 was taken from the office.