AUCKLAND BURGLARY

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 November 1943, Page 2

AUCKLAND BURGLARY

£14,000 CASH TAKEN.

AUCKLAND, November 24. A daring burglary, involving the loss of nearly £14,000, was carried out above the Sunshine Grill Rooms in Queen Street, Auckland, near the St. James Theatre, during the absence of the proprietor, Tom Vittle, last night. The money was stolen from a safe in Vittle’s bedroom and represented his accumulated savings oyer the past 20 years. Between £9OOO and £lO,OOO of the total was m American dollar bills of various denominations. the balance bemg in bank notes and a little silver. When Vittle left his premises at 7.<50 o’clock last night to go to a picture show he locked the door of his bedroom, which is upstairs above the restaurant, and .he had the only key of the safe in his pocket. He returned at 10.20 p.m., but did not immediately go to his bedroom, remaining in the kitchen assisting his staff. On going upstairs at 11.40 p.m., he found the bedroom door lock as it was left, but, on entering the room he saw that the safe door was wide open and that the money, which had been done up in bundles ot notes, was missing. The bedroom window was open and it is believed that the thief gained entrance over the roofs of buildings from a side street. . As the safe was not blown open it is a mystery how 'it was opened. . Vittle had been for a number ot years at this address. The police, who were immediately notified, have been working on the case continuously since. ,