145,000 Cigarettes In Burglars’ Hauls

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31409, 30 June 1967, Page 12

145,000 Cigarettes In Burglars’ Hauls

Nearly 145,000 cigarettes had been stolen in 21 of the 86 burglaries reported in Christchurch this month, said the police cnmeprevention officer (Detective Sergeant E. J. Stackhouse) yesterday.

“The pattern is not new—the petty burglars are still wfth us, and comer shops and small stores with not very good security precautions are still being broken into,” he said.

“It is clear that the owners are not putting stocks of cigarettes under lock and key. A considerable amount of beer and liquor is also being taken by the burglars. “Every one of the business premises broken into was

damaged, and damage to some was substantial,” said Detective Sergeant Stackhouse. Fifty-six burglaries of homes and flats had been reported during the month. That number was about the same as in the previous month and in May and June last year.

“Our graph shows that burglars are particularly busy during the winter, and businessmen and householders should pay extra attention to security. “The number of persons arrested on charges of burglary has risen substantially,” Detective Sergeant Stackhouse said. “Any suspicious acts by persons should be reported to the police immediately. The registration numbers of vehicles persons under suspicion come from or get into are particularly helpful.”