BURGLARS IN CITY

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 126, 21 February 1941, Page 9

BURGLARS IN CITY

Offices In Kent House Ransacked

£3O IN CASH STOLEN

Police Investigations Proceeding

Burglars were active in Wellington earl} - this week. They broke into Kent House, in Kent Terrace, and ransacked most of the offices in the building, making off with some £3O in cash. The same evening they were disturbed while attempting to gain access to another building. Two other attempts, also ' fruitless, to enter buildings in the city were made the following night. The police are investigating their activities.

In Kent House, the morning after the burglary, practically every door bore the marks of having been forced with jemmies, while desks and drawers had been similarly treated. Drawers had been pulled out, and their contents in many cases strewed about the offices. The burglars appeared to have started in the second story and worked downward, being disturbed before they completed their operations on the first floor. They ■were not interested in goods, but were in search of ready money. On the top floor they made their main haul in the offices of Amos Softgoods, Limited, where they obtained about £3O in cash, some of it the money of girl employees being kept for them by the firm. Jemmies Used. They broke open the door of the office with jemmies, an'd wrought havoc with the contents of the desks and drawers, throwing their contents about haphazard. A beautiful new desk of dark oak was mutilated, every drawer being roughly forced. A number of cheques was discarded by them as useless, but they took what money they eoul'd find. They also took a wallet, a present to Mr. G. S. Amos from a friend. In an adjacent office they found a tin of biscuits, which they ate on the spot. They did not take away any goods, nor did they open the office safe. They also entered the premises of T. Westheim and Company, ladies’ neckwear manufacturers, and opened drawers and desks. They apparently tampered with the safe in an attempt to open it, but were unable to do so. As all cash was in the safe, and they were evidently not interested in stealing goods, they left these offices emptyhanded.

They were equally unfortunate at the offices of G. H. Mooney and Company, Limited, sewing-machine agents and textile engineers. Here they caused considerable damage to the door in breaking in, requiring quite extensive repairs. They pulled out all drawers, leaving them about on top of the desks, and forced such desks as were locked, but secured nothing of value, as there was practically no cash left on the premises. Door Broken Down.

Subsequently they were evidently disturbed in the act of entering the 20th Century-Fox Film Corporation and Gaumont British Dominions Film Distributors’ office on the first floor. The door was broken open, and scarred with the usual jemmy-marks, but nothing Inside the offices appeared to have been touched.

About eight o’clock the same evening a driver returning to the factory of the Wellington Dry Cleaning Company apparently disturbed them in an attempt to break into the buildings. Similar jemmy .marks to those to be seen throughout Kent House were found subsequently on the main gate and wicket-gate, but the factory itself had not been entered.

Unsuccessful attempts were reported yesterday to have been made to break into the Druid’s Chambers, Woodward Street, and the premises of E. C. Browne and Company Limited, outfitters, Willis Street. In neither case were the thieves successful in gaining access.

The burglaries were reported to the police, and detectives subsequently visited the premises concerned, inspected the damage and jemmy marks, and questioned occupants of the buildings. The investigations are proceeding.