ROBBERS AT LARGE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11947, 18 May 1933, Page 4

ROBBERS AT LARGE

HOUSES ENTERED IN SUBURBS

KAITI A FAVOURITE PLACEMAN SURPRISED IN TWO INSTANCES. , An epidemic of robberies and burglaries is at present being experienced in Gisborne, the intruder concentrating, so far, in the neighbourhood of Kaiti, although in one instance » home in Whataupoko was cntcicd. The robberies are alarming residents who, in many cases, arc fearful of .returning home at night for, so far as is known, no arrest has been made. Whether, of course, the robberies are the attempt of one man i a not known, and this fact will, of course, remain in doubt until the matter is cleared up. In one case the man was fairly accurately described. He is apparently about 30 to 35 years of age, rather shabbily dressed in grey or brown, and sft. Sin. to sit. 10in. in height.- He is stated to be of medium complexion and appeared not to have shaved for some days, with indications of a small dark moustache growing. > CAUGHT RED-1 lANDFD. In one case the intruder was caught red-handed in the home by the occupier, but by a masterly strategic move got clear away. The date was about u week ago. The house is situated in Wainui road, and on the day in question the owner s family were out for the day. leaving both the front and back-doors locked. As the weather looked, threatening, the owner went home unexpectedly at lunch hour to secure his overcoat. Outside the house he noticed a bicycle leaning up against the front fence. Being suspicious, instead of using his front door key, he went to the back of tlie. building, and saw the top of a window pulled down . He was certain then that some unauthorised person w as in the house.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

The owner went to the front door, unlocked it. and entered. Hie first looked into the sitting-room, but saw no one there. He then pushed the door bade and found a man hidden behind it. He asked. “\\ hat arc you doing there?” The man ■ replied : “I'm waiting for somebody.” “Net me. J hope!" said the owner sarcastically. The man did not answer ai first; but. at length, said: “You’d better go and -ring up the police. PH "'ait here ” OWNER IN QUANDARY. The owner did not know what to do. If he attempted to capture the man. there might be trouble in =toie. TTe took another look at him and c ame to the conclusion that the intruder had reached the end of his resources and desired to be locked up. The cwnei'. thereupon, decided to folio" the man's advice. He waned. however, until he saw a pedestrian passiug-by in f\ ainui road and explained' tho position to mm. To make assurance doubly certain tlie owner took the man's bicycle lying outside and removed it. a few houses down the street. A DEL UI) E 1) W A TCHEK. The passer-uv agreed to waicli the place while the owner communicated with the police by phone fiom a house a few doors away. A\ hen the guardians of the law arrived they found the man standing outside: and he assured them no one had left tne house. Full of zeal, the party, headed by the police, entered the house, but the bird had ilowu. While tho man had been watching the frontof the house the intruder went out at the . back and was soon in Rutcne

roac:. V clue still remained, however, m tlie bicycle ridden by the man. ThD was taken in charge by the police, and high hopes were held as to the man’s identity. These were soon disposed of. however, few it was ascertained next day that the machine had been stolen a few hours Previously. After a subsequent search of tho house, the only article that could be found missing was a mail's shirt. GIRL SURPRISES INTRUDER. Three or four Jays ago, an unauthorised visit was paid to Mas. EKnox's house on' Ivaiti, but the intruder was disturbed' apparently just after effecting an entry. . This house is a largo one, situated right at the end of Ivaiti Esplanade, and lia s a detached room a short distance away from the main building. Miss Annie Knox heard someone in this * oom and she opened tho door to investigate. To her astonishment it was a man who was a complete strangei. As she entered he put his bands up in a quietening gesture and also told her not to make a noise. Miss Knox, however, called out louc.iy and tho unwelcome visitor promptly dashed through the door, .scrambled over the fence and was hot seen again. Nothing was found missing from tiic room _ LEFT ONLY TROUSER PRINTS! On May 4 a house in R-utene road was entered. The occupants had lei ■ ca-vly in the evening to attend the school hall. The premises were locked up and all lights switched off- On their return fit about 11.30 p.m. the light in the breakfast-room was form turned on. Naturally suspicious, the family proceeded to investigate, and did not have to look far. All the rooms had been ransacked and' turned out, many articles still lying on. the floor. The - intruder had disappeared through a. window and jumped ip to a flower bush below. Tho

marks of his trousers 011 window sill wero very distinct, but, fortunately for him, perhaps, the police force has not yet attained the art of distinguishing trouser prints. So fad- a s could be ascertained, nothing was missing, and apparently the intruder wa s after money. Another house hi Rutene road was also the' object of the unwelcome attentions of a- burglar, but, as far ■ as can be gathered, the booty - gained wa s not of a very large value. ACTIVITIES IN WHATAEPOKO. Last Friday activities were shifted to Whataupoko, the residence selected being in Sheehan street. As in the previous cases, the family was away for the day. In the back of the home is a flydoor which was locked. This flydoor opens on to a scullery. The. unwelcome visitor, had cut a neat hole in the wire;‘:gauze, ■ unlocked the flydoor, pulled the scullery window down, and gained admission to the house. When the owner returned at 8.30 p.m. lie was astonished to find the flydoor open, and, going inside, saw that the place had been well ' searched. On the scullery table had been left a littl e silver, roughly ss.' and, needless to mention, this disappeared.. with -. the robber.