CLEVER CAPTURE OF SAFEBREAKERS.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 717, 29 March 1900, Page 3

CLEVER CAPTURE OF SAFEBREAKERS.

A few months ago a burglary was committed at the offices of the Wagons Lits Company in Paris, the safe being blown open with dynamite, and some 100,000 francs rewarding the efforts of the visitors. The burglars could not be traced, and it is uncertain (says the correspondent of the 'Morning Post ') whether a gang captured soon afterwards by M. Hamard, one of the chiefs of the Detective Department, has the Wagons-Lits exploit on its conscience or not. In any case it led to their capture. The police thought the burglary' in question had been committed by foreigners, so a close watch was kept on all aliens of a suspicious character. It resulted in the capturo of four South Americans. The police watched the quartet break into an office, the operation being performed with efficient tools in an instant, and then through the window saw them operate on a large safe. They bored holes at each angle of the door and then knocked out the four rivets. Then, bending the outside plate a little, it was gripped by a curious instrument with immense gyratory leverage, and absolutely rolled up like the lid of a sardine box. The lock was thus exposed to view, and the withdrawal of a few screws al!owed the door to be opened. The burglars were disappointed at the contents of the safe, which only contained 400 francs. They divided the money and came out of the office, when they were arrested. The whole operation only lasted a quarter of an hour, so that safes would appear to offer but little security against the modern burglar.