CAT BURGLAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 7 March 1925, Page 7

CAT BURGLAR

AN ASTONISHING CASE

GIRL’S BAD CAREER

SOME DARING- EXPLOITS

SYDNEY, Feb. 20.

Sydney detectives have arrested a young woman who, for daring and enterprise, has the London eat burglars well beaten. Her exploits make amazing reading. Originally she was arrested more than a month ago. when a magistrate, being informed that she was only a recent arrival from England, took pity on her youth and apparent innocence and bound her over in her own recognisances to appear for sentence if called upon. A week after her appearance at Court the police have established the fact that the woman—she is really only IS years of age —revisited the residence in Daringliurst a robbery from which had been the original charge against her. She made a substantial haul, and then went back again a fewylays later, making three visits in the one, mon.th. In each case she entered by climbing a verandah post and foring open a window in tradesmanlike style. One visit was remarkable for tlie) daring she displayed. She was hungry, she lias confessed, and after scaling the verandah post she

forced the pantry window and helped herself to a generous meal. Her hunger appeased, she went upstairs and entered a room in which a woman was sleeping. She switched on the electric light and helped herself to an outfit of clothes without awakening the oocupant of the room, and then descended tiie verandah post again, leaving the light, burning. Another feature of her confession is Hie story of her short reign in the home of a distinguished member of Sydney society, who is'a great charity worker. Tlie girl from England was found in the back yard of the woman’s residence, and when brought before the mistress of the house told such a hard-luck tale that the latter took pity on her. • She engaged her as a help until the “unfortunate’’ could get better employment.

A week later the mistress rose early, and found her new maid just letting herself iu the front door, decked in all her mistress' finery. The mistress went away to call the police—-by then she realised that the new girl must be responsible for the disappearance of small household cJl'ec ts—-but when she returned the girl had fil'd, in her mistress' best dress.* She had many exploits which entailed the climbing of down-pipes, crawling through windows, and in every respect she emulated the exploits of the famous Bill Sikes. It has been discovered that she arrived from England on an emigrant •ship, and after staying in Queensland for a few weeks came on to Sydney, where she had not worked. Her next, few months in this country- will be spent at tlie expense of the Government.—Auckland Star correspondent.