Strongroom Blown Open With Gelignite

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 194, 18 August 1936, Page 6

Strongroom Blown Open With Gelignite

HASTINGS PIEM’S LOSS

Per Press Association. HASTINGS, Aug. 17. Thieves used gelignite to blow open the strongroom door at Mossman and Company’s office in Market street, Hastings, and steal £4O, early on Saturday evening. The theft was of a daring nature and there is evidence that the intruders were disturbed just as they complete their work. The front portion of the building is occupied by the Hastings Permanent Building and Investment Society, and the rear portion by Mossman and Co., moneylenders and debt collectors. About 8 o'clock on Saturday evening, Mr. Kunciman, secretary of the Building Society, had occasion to return to the office. He smelt strong fumes of gelignite in the passage and on making investiations found the door of the strongroom in Mossman’s office blown open. He notified the police and wihen they arrived the room was still Hilled with clouds of smoke and fumes. Prom this it is thought that the crime had just been committed wihen Mr. Bunciman arrived, and that he probably surprised the thieves, though they managed to escape with their haul. A thick cushion had been effectively jammed with a chair against the charge of gelignite, and this would tend to deaden the sound of the explosion. The thieves returned by post from Napier this morning several medals and unemployment books taken with the cash .on 'Saturday night.