Seventy Christmas hams stolen

Press, 21 December 1976, Page 6

Seventy Christmas hams stolen

Same Christchurch families might miss their Christmas; hams because of a burglary at the week-end. Chickens and hams worth! nearly $l3OO were stolen’ after thieves broke into the’ Canterbury Frozen Meat Company’s butchery at 812' Main North Road. Belfast, between Friday night and ves-' terday morning. * The 70 hams taken in-' xjuded manv which had been ordered and paid for bv customers, the manager of the shop. Mr B W. Hall, said yesterday. Mr Hall said he would not know until later this week whether the hams could be-

replaced in time for Christ;imas. •I “This is very embarrassing Tor us. It was hard enough Ito meet the demand as it was.” said Mr Hall. He said the shop had filled most orders it had received ■’from homes for the elderly ,and other institutions. Most of the stolen hamsj i were being kept in the shop’s freezer for private clients. Mr Hall said that those who did not get replacement hams in time for Christmas would have their money refunded. Christchurch detectives are investigating the theft, which dis the second major meat

• burglary in the city in 10 days. ; More than $4OOO worth of i choice steaks and other : smallgoods were stolen from Shackel Meats in Lichfield I Street last week. [ Most of the meat was rotten when it was recovered. Two men have since appeared in the Magistrate’s ! Court in connection with the ’ theft. The police are also investi1 gating a major house burglary ' in Christchurch at the week--1 end. About $B5O in cash was ! stolen after thieves forced a i door to a house in Grahams Road, Avonhead.