THE REIGN OF THE BURGLAR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 426, 8 February 1909, Page 4

THE REIGN OF THE BURGLAR.

SOME OF HIS WORK'IN AUCKLAND. ,(bI TEUSGBAPH—SPECIAL COBEESPONDENT.) , < Auckland, February 7. There is an old saying that there is a time for everything, and this is the time for burglary. On Monday last the Auckland police made a good haul, arresting \ seven men who were on premises in which were a lot of goods that had been stolen'from various places during/ the week 'previously. Since the arrest of the seven men in question, five more burglaries have been recorded. Ono occurred in Viotoria Street on Wednesday night,-when articles valued at from £10 to £15 were stolen'from a shop. Two other cases ' took place , at central boardinghouses, and a fourth at the residence of Mr., C. Griffiths, in Parnell, on Thursday night. Cash, to the amount of £2, together with a watch*and a medal worth about £8, were stolen. A fifth "visitation" is reported from the shop "of a curio dealer and jeweller in Shorthand Street on Friday night, when a window was smashed, but nothing stolen. 1 Perhaps it is not 1 strictly correct'to oall the perpetrators of" these crimes' burglars. In three instances at least there has been no ."breaking and l entering." It was not necessary to break' anything, as, in each case, either a door or a window was opened. The light-fingered gentleman, who is probably responsible for the three robberies'from the boardinghouses and from the Parnell residence, is believed to belong to the "sneakthief' class. Every summery this type of individual descends upon the big centres', his presence being generally felt when races are in' season. l The races attract a crowd of spielers, several, of whom put in their spare time in visiting citizens in their sleep*and despoiling them. It is so nice to lie abed these hot nights with the window open, that it suits nearly everybody, including the burglar; Not only does the general habit of leaving Windows open for fresh air assist the "nightbirds," but the door left "on the latch" for late home-comers, particularly in boardinghouses, is a positive invitation to them. In other words, the warmer'the night the less secure many houses are left, whilst, in boardinghouses, burglars have a chance of being taken for boaiders. ■ Epidemics of burglary or theft do 'Hot, as a rule, last more than a few days, the persons responsible, generally lying low after a while, and fearing to be too venturesome, once the special alertness of the police 'has been aroused by their midnight performances. When the city is looked, upon as unsafe, the sneak-thief is in the habit of visiting the suburbs, and, on this occasion, He has started with Parnell. ' I