Two Ashburton Premises Entered, Safe Stolen

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29724, 18 January 1962, Page 15

Two Ashburton Premises Entered, Safe Stolen

A safe, containing “a reasonable sum of money” in cash, was stolen from the Hotel Somerset in Ashburton in the early hours of yesterday morning. The hotel was one of two premises entered during the night by the thieves, and attempts were made to break into two other business premises.

It was the second time in tw’o w’eeks that thieves have struck in the town, the previous raid being on a store in Tinwald when £l5 in cash was taken.

The safe was recovered yesterday morning in a farm paddock at Dromore, with about £lOO in silver still in it. It is believed the burglary took place about 1 a.m yesterday, and the theft was discovered about 7 am Senior-Sergeant J. Devlin of the Ashburton police said vesterday afternoon.

When the safe was found, it had been smashed open at the back with an axe, but one compartment which contained the money had not been burst.

Measuring three feet by two feet six inches, the safe was 'aken from under the public receptic i counter of the hotel. It contained the “cash float” and some wages that had not been collected There w’as no evidence of damage to either the doors nr windows, although it is believed the thieves could have entered through the front door. The safe was lifted over the counter and carried through the front door. Tuesday night was one of the few occasions when the night porter was not on duty The other premises entered was Taylor’s Cleaners and Dyers. Ltd., a few doors along Burnett street from the hotel A back window w’as broken and some clothing was removed, but no money was taken. It is tt>e second time in recent months that these oremises has been broken into. An unsuccessful attempt

w’as also made to break into the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company. Ltd’s retail butcher’s shop, four premises along Burnett street from Taylor’s. Ltd. A window at the side of the building had been forced, but a wire-netting screen covering it stopped the thieves from gaining entry An attempt was also made to enter R. G. Woodham’s premises, but nothing had been reported missing yesterday afternoon. Two detectives from the Christchurch C. 1.8. and the Ashburton police are still investigating. Somewhere about 1 a.m yesterday, a resident who was going home late saw a strange motor-vehicle outside Woodham’s and thought it looked suspicious He gave the registration plate number to the police. Senior-Sergeant Devlin said.