Safe Smashers Again at Work

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6748, 5 January 1932, Page 7

Safe Smashers Again at Work

Two Daring Robberies EXPLOSIVES USED WELLINGTON, Last Night. Wakened at 1.30 this morning by a dull explosion coming from tho direction of tho sea, Eastbourne residents did not guess that the noise was caused by the shattering of a heavy safe on the sands under the Rona Bay Wharf, Wellington. Daring thieves had just removed the safe from a back room of a drapery store in Rimu street owned by William Moncklon. High-power explosives, used apparently by expert hands, blew tho door completely out of the safe, and when it was found by fishermen at 6 o’clock this morning ihcre was no sign of any of tho contents, which included £4 in silver and copper. The Eastbourne affair follows a very similar robbery on Friday night, when a safe weighing three hundredweight, and containing £2O in cash, was removed from tho premises of John Moron, a. draper, at 62, Vivian street, and broken open with explosives near the Massey Memorial at. Point Halswell. Mr. Moron’s safe was recovered from the sea 011 Saturday, and with it were found some of his account books, deeds, and two cheques. These two robberies, which closely resemble the burglary <it the Panama hotel a short time ago, nro being investigated by Detective-Sergeant Rcvell and Detective McLennan. Front Door Smashed. Mr. Monckton’s shop at Rona Bay was entered by smashing a pane of glass in the front door. A large showcase in front of the door hid the thieves while they were engaged in forcing an entry, and gave them plenty of oppor-

tunity to remove the safe without being seen. Mr. Monckton, who lives near tho shop, visited the premises late last night, and at that time everything was in order. The safe weighed about a hundredweight and a-half, and could not have been handled by one man alone. The fishermen who found the safe immediately communicated with Constable Squire, who took charge until the arrival of Detective McLennan. A search was made for any possible clues, and the safe was removed from the beach about S o’clock. Vivian Street Robbery. Thieves entered Mr. Moron’s shop in Vivian street some time between 8.35 pan. and 10 p.m. on Friday and re* moved the safe by dragging it out of the shop on a, mat, which was subse» quently found in the sea. It appeared from tho position of th 6 furniture that tho safe had been taken to the back door and carried through a lane to a waiting motor vehicle in Jessie street. When Mr. Moron and his family returned homo at 10 o’clock they found the back door open. It was afterwards ascertained that a friend had called at the premises at 8.35 p.m., and everything was then securely fastened. Stolen Medal Found. Included in the stolen property were fifty medals, the majority of which were of gold, won by Mr. Moron’s daughter, Mrs. E. J. Miller, of Carterton, in dancing competitions. One of these medals was found near the Cenotaph on Saturday and handed to the police. The medals were of an intrinsic value of not less than £l6O, but a greater sentimental value was placed upon them by their owner. Several cheques of a total face value of about £IOO were also stolen.