Thieves Raid Safes and Strongrooms

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 44, 22 February 1938, Page 6

Thieves Raid Safes and Strongrooms

GELIGNITE USED BUT REWARD NEGLIGIBLE Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. Concentrating all their energies on a number of stores and buildings situated close to Moorhouse avenue, thieves had a busy time during the week-end endeavouring to open safes and strongrooms, but their efforts proved fruitless and but for a sum of 3s taken from a till, they went away unrewarded. The seed store of J. Montgomery and Co. was entered and the safe opened, while entry was also gained to tho offices of the Central Co-op. Dairy Co. Ltd., and the Farmers’ Machinery Exchange Co. Ltd. The most successful effort was at the office of the Addington Timber Company’s building in Lincoln road, where the door of the «afe was blown off and although there was a sura of money in the safe this was not touched. It is believed the thieves were scared away by the noise of the explosion. At Montgomery and Company’s store the front door was forced open and an attempt made with gelignite to open the office safe. A piece of fuse was found on the floor but there was no evidence of an explosion. The safe was pulled out of position and another attempt, this time from the back, was made, and although successful, the safe was empty. It is thought a crow-bar was used for this job.