CONFIDENCE TRICK.

Northern Advocate, 6 May 1914, Page 8

CONFIDENCE TRICK.

NEW ZEALANDERS ROBBED. .«

LONDON, March 13. The residence-of a well-known New Zealander, living in a London suburb, was cleverly robbed recently by what is known as the insurance agent, trick. - The family was , out for the -evening when a knock was heard, at the door, which was opened to a very well-dress-ed and gentlemanly person, who inquired politely for the master, then the mistress, and then anybody at all. The maid inadvertently admitted that all were out and she was alone in.the house. The man was much perturbed. He represented, he said), a certain insurance company with which the master had made a proposal for additional insurance, and he had to make a report on the contents of the, house that evening. As the family was not' expected home until late, he suggested that he should look round in their absence and get what information he required.. To this the maid agreed, and she showed the agent through several of . the rooms. By-and-bye he said he had \ forgotten his notebook, aria required j some paper to n\ake notes. \ Would j she get him some? , j The maid, rather foolishly, went down • two Rights of stairs to the kitchen, got j the paper and returned to the bedroom , in which she had left the "agent." As. '

she entered the room he was looking through a chest of. drawers. She protested he had no right to do this, but the "agent" assured her that he was supposed to make quite sure of what there was in the house. He made a few notes and then told the maid that after all it would perhaps, be better for him to return when the master was at home. With this he left.

When the famity returned the maid reported that an insurance agent had called, but when she was asked if she had let him in she saw her/nuStake, and protested she had not. /it was only the following day that 4he New Zealander and his wife discovered that a quantity of gold and jewellery, amounting in value to about '£60, had been stolen from the drawers. The irony of the incident was that the comprehensive insurance policy which most London, residents take up, did not provide for just this particular sort of robbery, in which servants of the household admit the robber.