WOMAN'S RUSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1939, Page 11

WOMAN'S RUSE

TRAP FOR INTRUDER

BUT MAN MADE ESCAPE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

DARGAVILLE, This Day

A courageous plan by a married woman to trap a burglar in her home last evening worked with success until the burglar made a dash and evaded capture by fleetness of foot. - He was struck over the head by the woman with an axe handle before getting away.

The woman, Mrs. W. Peko, usually leaves her home unoccupied on; Friday evening to relieve her husband at his shop for tea. About lavt Aveeks ago the house was entered during this interval. Mrs. Peko evolved a plan. Instead of going to the shop she^ left her front bedroom Avindow open, extinguished the lights, and remained in the darkness. About 6.45 p.m. she heard someone approaching, and heard him enter the bedroom. She approached the room, switched on the light, and saw a young man. a stranger .to her. "You have got me this time, and I suppose you are going to ring the police," he said. Mrs. Peko turned to telephone the police, whereupon ' the man hurriedly escaped. ; She chased him with the axe handle to the opposite side of the road, where his'bicycle was lying. As he was mounting she struck him, but the biow did not'prevent his- escape.

Mrs. Peko's call for assistance- Avas answered by neighbours. Sergeant F Culloty searched the vicinity but no trace of the man was found.