Moves Against Burglars

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30918, 26 November 1965, Page 1

Moves Against Burglars

The Christchurch police were taking steps to combat the current wave of house and shop burglaries, said the new head of the Christchurch C. 1.8. (Detective Superintendent F. A. Gordon) yesterday.

“When there is an outbreak of this type, it calls for a more concerted line of action. That line of action will be put into operation forthwith,” Mr Gordon said. “We are taking steps to increase the number of men in the ‘break’ squad for a start,” he added. Over the last four months there has been a steep increase in the number of houses being burgled in Christchurch. Some of the burglaries have been committed by juveniles. However, detectives are aware of up to 10 men, with convictions for burglary, who have been living in Christchurch. The men are not working, but seem to have plenty of

money—enough to frequent hotels regularly during the day. Many of the house burglaries have been the work of professional criminals. In most of these, money only has been stolen,

and the houses and their occupants watched for some time so that the houses can be entered when they are empty.

Sums up to £250 have been stolen from houses. Homes in Fendalton have been a particular target. Cameras and electrical appliances worth thousands of pounds have also been taken from houses. There has also been a wave of thefts from vehicles, and up to £BOO has been stolen. In many instances, it is obvious that the thief knew that the driver of the vehicle had a substantial sum of money in it In some instances when large sums have been stolen, the vehicles have been broken into.

Mr Gordon, who began duties in Christchurch yesterday, said that waves of crime were common to all big cities. ’

“By and large, the clearingup of burglaries by the New Zealand police compares more than favourably with the work of other police forces in the Commonwealth. We intend to keep it that way,” he said.