BURGLARIES IN PALMERSTON NORTH

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 70, 16 December 1919, Page 13

BURGLARIES IN PALMERSTON NORTH

LAD ADMITS' HIS GUILT. By Telegraph.—Spooial Correspondent. Palmerston North, December 15. For somo timo past thero appears to havo been an epideinio of breaking and entering at Palmerston North. On Sunday night the premises of Mr. C. Penman, tobacconist, Hangitikei SI reel, wexo entered. Tho method of entry was on almost similar lines to tho previous cases, that of breaking the glass panel of tho door to gain access to tho lock. This was idone, but tho presenco of another lock forced the intruder to smash the back window. All the money was locked up in a strong room, and tho thief escapod with a quantity of cigars and cigarettes. In Alain Street, between Saturday night and Sunday morning, two cases of breaking and entering were reported. Martin's shop was entered by a back window, Tho intruders, first broke a window in the office, but fttilod to gain entrance, but eventually they succeeded in taking a window and frame out, about ten feet from tho ground, and obtained entrance that way. The mystery is how they clambered down to the floor from that height without disturbing any of tho goods on tlio shelves. Having obtained an entrance, they appear to havo devoted attention to the till, which 'was found open, but seven shillings' worth of coppers, which were the only contents, were not disturbed. Neither wore the contents of the stamp drawer, which was found open, with the contents intact. The owners cannot eay at tho present timo what stock is missing, but think it probable that several ladies' handbags, worth -15s. each, have been removed. Traces of caudle gre.ve were found about the till and the fixtures, and as no candles were used on the premises, it is surmised that these were used by the intruders, A few doors down the street tho premises of Eenton, stationer, were also entered by the back way. Largo stones had been thrown through a back window, and in their passage had broken the panes in two show eases, and wero found lying on th.e shop floor. These did damago to tho contents to the extent of about ,£lO. Apparently having broken a pano in tho outside window, tho intruders put a boy through the broken window, and he opened tho door from tho inside, giving them easy aeccss. Tho till was opened, but the contents, fortunately, had been removed, and no money was secured. A pile of tho "Deadwood Dick" style of novels had been disturbed, and 'appeared to havo been overhauled, but as tho stock is a very varied one, the proprietors say that it will be a few days before they can ascertain what has been taken. A laundry, kept by Joe Lee, was entered on Sunday night, but the intruders got nothing for their pains. Entranco was effected by breaking tho lock of tho front door, and when the ownera returned they found a screwdriver and screw wrench lying inside tho door on tho floor. Later. About 7.30 to-night information was received l>v tho police that someone bad entered ttie premises of the Premier Drapery Company by breaking a panel in the'back door. 'On proceeding to tho scene Constable Colo found a diminutivo lad of ten years, who, upon being, taken to the station, admitted that he was the author of eight of tiio crimes which had boen pnt down to a gang of burglars. The lad will bo brought before tho Court in tho morning. SAFE-BKEAKEKS IN AUCKLAND. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, December 15. During tho week-end burclars blew open two safes with explosives. and got away without detection. From tho Vacuum Oil Company's safe tho thieves secured a sum of .£3O and a chcq'ue, while from the premises of W. Casey they took ,C 5 and a number of cheques. The woiTi is regarded ns being that of the same gang tliat committed a .similar crime in Ponsonby a short timo ago.