NEW LOOTING

Hokitika Guardian, 16 July 1931, Page 6

NEW LOOTING

MANY HOMES WRECKED. COMMUNISTS’ CRIMES. SYDNEY, July 2. When the Sydney police raided a suburban home last Monday in order to force an eviction order they found the place, which for some weeks had been occupied by Communists who intended to defy the law, had been damaged to an amazing extent. The flooring boards in the main room mid been ripped up and had been, utilised for tirewoou. The door had been reinforced by three layers of timber torn from the walls, and the railings from the stairway acted as powerful stays against- the back and front doors. All the fittings from the other rooms had been torn up and used for the purpose of barricading the windows. It would have been impossible for the police to have entered the house by way of the balcony, for the woodwork had been sawn through in many places, weakening it to such an extent that any weight placed upon it would have brought it crashing to the ground. Everything that could he turned into money had been removed. It seems to be part of the belief of the Communists that landlords are fitting prey for those who believe -m thejr strange creed. Sydney is to-day th'e centre of a cleverly organised system of house looting—a system tnar brings rich rewards and means thousand:! of pounds annually in damage. Of course, it would, not be fair to blame the Communists for all the wrecking that has been perpetrated, but the bulk of it lies at their door. They have adopted the role of protectino to the man who cannot pay his rent and is threatened with eviction. They instal themselves in. the threatened home, and then proceed to pull the house to pieces until the police make it uncomfortable for them. Then their discretion wins, and they decide to seek new pastures. There are many landlords who would prefer to see their house occupied by a non-paying, tenant then empty. An empty house is immediately ransacked. Gangs of men invade the empty premises, and with a skill born of practise they take everything of valuelead pipes, water taps, basin plugs, gas coppers, cisterns, door locks, window frames, glass, shelving, doors, grates, and stoves—anything that can be melted, down repainted, or disguised in some way so that it will meet with a ready sale on the open market. Many of the houses are looted in the broad daylight; in fact, most of the looting takes place then for the reason that it is less likely to arouse suspicion. Most people nowadays seem to think it best to mind their own business, and maybe that is why neighbours hesitate to interfere. Quite a large fleet of motor cars must be engaged i.n this illegal business. The thieves do not give the whole of their attention, to houses. Recently a well-known city firm decided to make available to the unemployed its greatvacant warehouse. When they opened the premises they found it had been disgracefully stripped of everything of value.