THEFT REMAINS UNSOLVED

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 71, 16 December 1938, Page 7

THEFT REMAINS UNSOLVED

Loss From Rangitata FRUITLESS SEARCH OF SHIP By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, December 15. The theft of £l6OO from the captain’s safe in the liner Rangitata remained unsolved tonight in spite of every effort on the part of the police, and the ship will leave for London at 7 o’clock tomorrow morning. Every person who might have been able to help the detectives has been interviewed and the ship was searched today as thoroughly as the circumstances permitted, but without result. . A party of police and Customs officers carried out simultaneous searches in every part of the ship. The quarters occupied by the captain, his officers and the crew were examined, the covers on the lifeboats were removed and the contents of the boats checked, ventilators were tested, and likely hiding places investigated. All'ltfggage and personal effects were thoroughly searched. , . A search squad from Scotland Yard will probably subject the liner to an examination not possible in Auckland when the Rangitata reaches London. Her holds were almost filled with cargo by the time the police began their inquiries, but in London officers will be able closely to examine eveby piece of merchandise that leaves the hold, apart from the testing of possible hiding places that did not present Themselves he in the face of many difficulties the police were hopeful of solving the theft, but the time between last Friday -when Captain Edward Holland, master of the Rangitata, saw the money safely locked away and his discovery on Tuesday morning of the theft, has proved a great handicap.