AUDACIOUS THEFT

Franklin Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 3, 11 January 1943, Page 3

AUDACIOUS THEFT

MOTOR TAKEN FROM COWSHED ELECTRIC WIRES GUT Between 9.J0 on Saturday night, and •? on Sunday morning, an electric motor was removed from the cowshed of a dairyfarmer in this district. Tiie thief, who apparently knew his business, switched off the current at tin* meter and then cut the wires lending from the meter to the separator motor, unbolted the motor and removed it. He also look the belts from the skim milk pump and the pulleys.

When the owner went to his cowshed in the morning, he discovered the separator motor missing. This was indeed fortunate. for had he not noticed the motor was missing and switched on the power, lie might have electrocuted himself, members of his family and cows, for the electric wires were left hanging and almost touched the concrete, a good conductor of electricity. tn the early hours of Sunday morning the farmer was awakened by dogs barking and got up to see what it was all about. He heard a car drive away from ils parking place on the rood, toil did not attach any importance thereto. However, the farmer and bis family were obliged to separate the day's milk by hand separator —quite a big .job for a medium herd.

FnrimTs generally should take heed of the experience of this particular f.iriiwr. and as far as possible safeguard their cowshed equipmeni. other simitaf thefts have also been reported.