Burglars Set Record

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32050, 26 July 1969, Page 1

Burglars Set Record

A record number of burglaries was reported to the police in Christchurch last month, the crime-preven-tion officer (Detective Sergeant E. J. Stackhouse) said yesterday. The number was 248. The value of the goods stolen was $16,307, compared with $lB,OOO taken in 213 burglaries in May and $12,868 in 181 burglaries in ApriL Last month’s total included 85 in which entry was either foiled by security measures or nothing was taken. Detective Sergeant Stackhouse said that in June, 1965, 91 burglaries were reported, property worth

$5OOO being taken. The 1965 figure,included only those burglaries in which there was loss of property. For every burglary of a dwelling last month there were nearly three of business premises. Reports of thefts, which reached a record of 331 in May, dropped last month to 286. That total, however, was higher than the 248 thefts reported in April. A similar pattern of a slight drop after a new peak was also shown In reports of vehicles unlawfully taken. Last month 64 vehicles were taken, in May 71, and in April 50. Thirtyone vehicles were unlawfully taken in June, 1965.