NIPPED IN THE BUD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 30 June 1933, Page 5

NIPPED IN THE BUD.

BURGLARIOUS ATTEMPT ON MANAKAU STORE. THREE INTRUDERS COVERED - WITH SHOTGUN. A burglary was attempted at Mr A. O. Powell ’s store at Manakau about two o ’clock this morning, but owing to the promptitude of an employee, with the subsequent help of the proprietor and a the men who had undertaken the job were prevented from, getting away and were handed over to the police. The assistant, Mr Leslie James Willis, who sleeps on the premises, was awakened by a noise in the building, and he lost no time in communicating with the 'owner by telephone. When Mr Powell arrived Mr Willis took up a shotgun and went down the alleyway with him. On opening the back door, they found three men in the storeroom leading into the main shop. The trio were engaged in trying to burst the door between the two apartments. Mr Willis covered the intruders with the gun, keeping them ixi position till the arrival of Mr M. B. Anderson, who has the adjoining shop and who had .been aroused by the noise. ’ A telephone message was sent to the Levin police, and Constable Bagrie went to the scene, -took the trespassers in ‘charge and brought them to the lockup. With a brace-and-bit they had bored a hole in the back, door so as to enable them to remove the bar (and thus gain entrance to the store-room. There is no doubt that, had Mr Willis not been sleeping on the premises, they would have obtained access to the shop in a few minutes. They were in possession of a stolen car from Wellington. This afternoon the arrested men were brought before the Court and remanded for a week. They are Samuel McKee, Joseph Dunn and George William Attwell, and the charge against them is that of breaking and entering with intent to commit a crime. -