RECENT BURGLARIES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 195, 12 May 1908, Page 7

RECENT BURGLARIES.

THE HON. J, M'GOWAN INTERVIEWED. HOUSEHOLDERS SHOULD BE MORE ■ .CAREFUL. (by telegraph.—special correspondent.) ' Auckland, May 11. . Tho recent frequency of burglaries in Auckland and elsewhere was referred to by a "Herald" representative in tho courso of an interview on Saturday evening with' tho Hon. Jas. M'Gowan, who as Minister for Justice is at tho head of the' Police Forco of'tlio Dominion. Mr, M'Gowan said that tho police were doing all that was possible in their ondeavoure to detect, tho burglars, but ho said he thought that too much carelessness was .displayed by householders. They could help themselves a' great deal in tho matter by being more careful in regard to their money and valuables, and also by giving tho police tho earliost possible notification instead of allowing considerable time to elapse before reporting tho thefts as was often tho case. On being asked whether he agreed with tho policy of reticence observed by the police in regard to tlieso burglaries, Mr. M'Gowan said that ho considered the polico were quite correct in the attitude taken up. Any publication of information in connection with tho burglaries was read by the burglara thomselves, and it . thus tended .to assist them in evading arrest. "Does not publicity servo to place peoplo on thoir guard?" the Ministor was. asked. ■"It may do that certainly," admitted Mr. M'Gpwan, "but I maintain that'peoplo who have valuables should always bo • on. their guard. I think that moro harm than good is done by tho publication of accounts of tho burglaries." ' On it boing mentioned that in England'tho newspapers wero furnished by tho polico with descriptions of stolen property,, tho Minister replied: "That is a matter for the owners of the goods not for tlio police. I havo not tho least hesitation in confirming tho position takon up by our police."