Safe was not safe

Press, 28 May 1979, Page 10

Safe was not safe

I ! The Town Hall safe will I be bolted to the floor to I prevent burglars getting I away with it. : This has been revealed by ’ the Town Hall manager (Mr B. P. Connell) at a Board of Management meeting when he was questioned about a recent theft of the safe and security arrangements for the building. Early this month, the safe, containing $l7OO in cash and cheques, was stolen. It was later recovered by the police. Five men were arrested in connection with the theft. Cr Mollie Clark, had earlier told the meeting that I she was “appalled to find I that this fine building had .been left wide open,” as she I believed from news media : reports, “for burglars to walk in." She suggested that l two leading security firms in

Christchurch be approached for quotations for improved security systems. Mr Connell said, however, that' the burglars had not walked into a wide open building. An employee of the hall, a cleaner, had engineered the theft, which involved four others. He had merely used his key to join an early-morning shift and had locked the door again after the theft was completed. There were several checks on the building, which has 86 doors, by both police and security men every night, Mr Connell said. The meeting decided to approach the security firms for information about any new warning systems or other equipment which might improve the Town Hail’s security. The police are also to be asked for a report on the matter.