LOCAL BURGLARIES.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5666, 21 December 1920, Page 5

LOCAL BURGLARIES.

HOUSES ENTERED IN WHATAUPOKO.

MONEY AND VALUABLES

TAKEN

INTRUDER'S HASTY FLIGHT.

Three houses in Whataupoko were broken into on Sunday evening and a number of 'articles and a sum or money stolen. * It appears that the houses were entered while the occupants were absent at church, and Hi each case the entry seems to havebeen effected from the rear. Two or the houses are situated in Stafford Street and one in Upper Stout Street. From the Stafford Street premises jewellery, clothing, money and plate were stolen, the approximate . value of the goods being £55. Drawers were searched and the contents scattered around on the fiber, whilst cash, rings, clothing and. plfite Were freely appropriated.-' - In the'" case of the Stout Street house/: the occupier was absent and a gentleman and his wife were staying there. They ..were asleep, and ..whre awakened’ by . someone moving • about in. tlie house'and shortly after (•the intruder/entered the room. Obviously believing that there was no one iii the bouse, the thief uttered a shout of amazement and turned to flee, closely pursued by the gentleman/ Who had obtained a fairly good view of. the man as he entered the. room. The burglar escaped, but some money, a scarf, and other articles were' found near the fowlhouse, having apnarently been dropped by him in "his hasty retreat. . The only clues to the identity of the perpetrator of the thefts were the imprints of bare toes on the lino- • leum and on tlie freshly-pa’.nted win-dow-sills. Judging from the appearance of the footprints, they must Kake belonged; to either-a small man • or- aibig b.oy-.'.' •' ; ' : -/./The. niatter is" now in the hands or : /the-police. iwh'jj/are conducting an iii- '. •vbstigation: /. - < • ' •'/'./'■/