Safe-breakers get fifth haul in Nelson

Press, 1 June 1977, Page 4

Safe-breakers get fifth haul in Nelson

Nelson reporter Safe-crackers have struck in Nelson for the fifth week in a row, returning to the Nelson branch of Woolworths to cut open a safe and steal several thousands of dollars in cash. Although the police have not released the exact sum stolen from Woolworths, it is known to be in the “several thousands.” Add this unknown sum to the money stolen from safes in and around Nelson since March, and the figure is close to $20,000. Once again the thieves — the police say more than one person has been involved in each offence — broke through a barred skylight in the roof. The bars were cut and. according to Detective Sergeant P. D. Moore, relieving head of the Nelson C. 1.8., the safe was cut open with gas equipment “in a very professional manner.” When Woolworths was broken into two weeks earlier, watches valued at about $714 were stolen.

On that occasion the thieves had a look at the safe, and even had a perfunctory crack at it with cutting equipment. At the time it was thought the thieves might have been disturbed, but in the light of a later theft of a gas cylinder from the Sturrock and Greenwood, refrigeration engineers, it now seems likely they ran out of gas when they first broke into Woolworths. They returned with a full cylinder. The systematic burgling of safes around Nelson began at the week-end of March 3-4, when a safe at the Super Discount Store in Richmond was cut open, and $BOO stolen. The next week-end, the Exclusive Cake Kitchen, in Motueka, was entered, the safe and its $l6OO in cash removed. The safe, hacked open, was later recovered. On the night of March 11-12, the safe at the Majestic Theatre, Nelson, was cut open and $3OOO in cash taken. There was little activity

then until the week-end of April 30-May 1, when a safe in the office of H. and J. Smith, Ltd was blown open, and $5500 stolen. Woolworths and the garage of Gladstone Motors, Nelson, were entered the next week. A safe containing about $4OO from Gladstone Motors was transported out of the area by a truck belonging to the firm. Both were found later, but only the truck was in good condition. The safe had been cut open — very expertly. At the week-end of May 21-22, Millers, Ltd, Trafalgar Street, was entered, the safe hacked open, and about $5300 stolen. Sergeant Moore is not certain whether all offences were committed by the same gang. There are several interesting features of the offences, not the least of which is the burglars’ penchant for choosing buildings which house safes of the older type. The varying methods used to open the safes is also unusual.