AUCKLAND BURGLARIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 October 1926, Page 5

AUCKLAND BURGLARIES

•. L' 1 s CLOTHING STORES ROBBED.

TWO GOOD HAULS.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, October 14. On .Monday night, the clothing establishment of Bert Rowlands, in Karangahape Road, was broken into. Entrance was gained after the burglars had jemmied their way in via the oack door. A complete panel was smashed right in. The marks of the .jemmy are still on the back door. Once the panel was removed all the intruders had to do Was to crawl through the large opening and release three large bolts which secured the door. Rowlands states that when he arrived at his shop on Tuesday morning, he found that it had been thoroughly ransacked.. Behind the counter was a little clothing of all sorts, Suits, ties, collars, hats, rugs, stocking, etci, were piled on the floor level with the counter. The burglars apparently had remained in the shop for some time, for they selected suits, shii-ts, singlets, and socks of the otle size. Nine box suits, which Wol‘e on shelves behind the display counter, were brought out and laid on the counter side of the emporium. From each of the nine Suits, the burglars took the trousers only, leaving the vests and coats lying on the floor. Several valuable overcoats and also several nigs, valued at £5 5s each, also several umbrellas, which were displayed near the front door, were included among the booty obtained.

,■ “They must have been in niy shop for hours, judging by the stuff they stole and the mess they made,” Rowlards said. So" far Rowlands has ascertained that £75 worth of goods have been stolen. This, he says, is a low estimate, for it will be impossible for him to definitely discover exactly how much is missing for several days to come. Two months ago an unsuccessful attempt to gain entry to the same shop was made. Last night, the premises of the Dominion Importing Coy., in Karangahape Road, vjere burglariously entered in a manner that would indicate that the burglars were the same men who entered Rowland’s shop on Monday night. The panel of the rear door was smashed in. and the door unbolted from the inside. Evidently the thieves confined their attentions to the basement where some thousands of pounds worth of goods were stored Careful selection of valuable articles were made, a number of sets of carvers valued at £4 4s being stolen. Dozens of matches, large quantities of cigarettes and tobacco, electro-plate ware and fancy goods, as well as expensive face creams and powders and other toilet goods, were removed. As far as can be gathered about £2OO worth of goods have been stolen. Both Rowland’s shop and the Dominion Importing Coy’s premises are situated in the busiest, portions of Karangahape Road, which are patrolled day and night bv constables.

The garage of William Archer, of Mount Albert, was broken into by thieves, who removed his five-seater motor car. The car was subsequently found destroyed by fire. The car was insured for £250, the owner’s loss being £125 over this amount. The number of car thefts is becoming alarming.