Repeated Burglaries At Good-will Store

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30873, 6 October 1965, Page 1

Repeated Burglaries At Good-will Store

Burglars have been interpreting the Methodist Central Mission’s slogan “Not charity —a chance” in their own way. The words are written in huge letters over the mission’s social service store in Kilmore street as an invitation to the needy of Christchurch. But less-deserving citizens have broken into the building and stolen an unknown quantity of goods every week-end for the last seven weeks. They have takeji cartons of men’s and women’s underclothes, woollen goods and furniture, including a large china cabinet. The Rev. W. E. Falkingham, the mission superintendent, said the burglars had broken windows and forced doors to get in. The mission had boarded up the broken windows and driven Bin nails into the doors, but

the boards had been forced off and the nails drawn out. Police had been called in, bi t had not been able to catch anyone in the act of breaking in. Mr Falkingham said the building had been used as a bulk store for the last three months, and it was impossible to say how much or what value of goods had been stolen. Much of it was unsorted. “An even worse feature is the mess they leave the place in,” he said. “They throw clothing around and tear up books and throw them around. It seems to be deliberate vandalism.” The repeated burglaries have caused the mission to hasten its move to new premises. Its store is on the site for the town hall, and Mr Falkingham expects the move to be made in about a fortnight.