SAFE BLOWERS FOILED

Grey River Argus, 14 May 1935, Page 5

SAFE BLOWERS FOILED

A MYSTERIOUS EXPLOIT. AT AUCKLAND LEGAL OFFICE. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, May 13. Mysteriously entering a five-storey-ed building in the legal area of the city during the week-end, and just as mysteriously gaining an entrance to a suite of offices occupied by the firm of barristers and solicitors without leaving any traces showing how the entrance was effected, burglars were unsuccessful in blowing open the safe in the offices with gelignite. Every thing in the building appeared to be in order this morning, when the clerks arrived. The front door of the building was not damaged, while the solicitors’ main office door on the first floor was securely locked. The only thing to arouse the suspicion of a junior clerk was that the padlock was not in its usual position on the strongroom door. This was found lying on the floor. It had. been broken off. On opening the strongroom door, which the intruders had left closed, the clerk discovered that the safe was lying on its side, the door being considerably damaged as the result of a charge of gelignite, which had been exploded in the keyhole. The explosion had shattered the door, which failed to open, and the services of a locksmith had to be obtained to remove it. The safe contained numerous documents, including debentures worth several thousand pounds, but no cash.