THE LATE ROBBERY IN SHORTLAND-STREET.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVI, Issue 4000, 17 June 1870, Page 3

THE LATE ROBBERY IN SHORT-LAND-STREET.

ARREST OF T 3E ACCOMPLICE. ■ Fob some time past a series of most determined and extensive robberies have been going on in Shortland-street, from the warehouses of Mr. Probert and Messrs. Winks and Hall. We have refrained from making known the facts of the case hitherto, because | it was thought by the police our silence would aid them in their investigations ; and the reward has boen ample. The case is a peculiar one, and shows the value to the public of having old and experienced policeofficers in this city. The parties who are the [ sufferers do not know when they were robbed, nor do they know to this hour the extent to which their property has been purloined, although the police have property recovered to the value of between £100 and £200. They were not aware of having sustained any loss whatever until their attention was drawn to it by Detectives Ternahan and Murphy. For several weeks past the attention of these vigilant officers was attraoted to the improved appearance of many of their "old friends " houses. They were at a loss to account for the valuable sets of ohina ware which they observed, also the damask window curtains, and Brussels carpets, hearthrugs, &c, with which the houses were adorned. No robberies had been reported, and none of the articles corresponded to the descriptions of former robberies. They wisely kept silent on the matter, and watched to see what would turn up out of the affair. A clue was at length obtained, and the work of gathering in the goods was soon accomplished — thanks to their former close observation and patience. An old convict named Francis Falcon was arrested last Sunday, but was remanded for a week to afford time to find his companion Joseph Smith, another old gaol bird, who was arrested yesterday by Detective Murphy at Waitakere. From the information in the possession of the police it seems Messrs. Winks and Hall store had been entered nightly from a smalllane, andthegoods carried away piece meal, and a most varied selection of the highest-priced house furnishings had been selected — infaot it seemsseveral prostitutes' houses have been completely furnished fiom the proceeds of these midnight visits, and their loss is roughly conjectured at from £70 to £100. Suspicion rested some time ago on one of the workmen of taking some small articles which were missed, but these disclosures now show how nnjust the suspicion was. Mr. Probert has been even a more severe suferer, his loss being conjectured at about .£l5O, Whole seta of the finest china and earthenware are now missed from that store in great numbers. The police have recovered tea and breakfast j services by the gross and some of the most respectable people in Auckland have \ been made \icfcims by baing the purchasers of some of tt l >ese goods from travelling hawkers — some 30 families or more, we believe, have been victimised.' Every day still they are bringing odd pieces from both stores, and by Monday, next, to which, day Falcon was remanded, a large portion of the Police Court' .will be requhed,to hold the property recovered.

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