AN EXCITING CHASE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 April 1925, Page 4

AN EXCITING CHASE.

ALLEGED BURGLARS PURSUED

CROWD JOINS WITH FUGITIVE

The shrill blast of a policeman’s whistle created considerable excitement in Wellington early on Thursday morning. when three ' suspected burglars were being hotly pursued along the city streets. Always on the lookout for excitement, an eager crowd joined, in the chase, but got ahead of one of the fugitives, and kept running in 'the wroqg direction. All three were arrested, and it was a surprised crowd that turned around to find that the fun had been missed.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, when Constable Beadle was on duty in Lambton Quay, he found that the door of- Jays’ Limited, ladies’ outfitters, had been prized open. Flashing his torch into the shop, he found that there was nobody within, and so made a search outside. A short distance away he saw ..three meu who were talking about “going oh board.” He hailed them, hut the trio immediatelv took flight. ' The constable followed them down Brandon street. Put on his blowing his whistle they separated. One decided on' Customhouse Quay, another made for Grey street, and the third disappeared in the dark. By this time Constable Parker came running along in answer to the whistle, and two of the men were arrested.

While the chase was in progress a number of revellers were attracted by the whistle. Seeing a man running desperately towards them they evidentI ly decided that he was after somebody, and not to be outdone ran ahead of him. When the fugitive was arrested the crowd had to turn round, and by that time two of the suspected men were at the Central Police Station. The third man was arrested by two detectives on Thursday afternoon. The door leading into the premises of Jays’ Limited, shows the mark of a chisel or a similar instrument that was used in forcing the lock. Remarkably few burglaries have been perpetrated in the La-mbton Quay district during the past few years, and this was the first attempt made for some time.