"BURGLING."—A FALSE ALARM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6237, 12 November 1881, Page 5

"BURGLING."—A FALSE ALARM.

There are burglaries and burglaries, as the subjoined narrative will fully illustrate. About 10 o'clock last night a number of young men were going up Victoria-street (south side), on their way home from Professor Caliiau's musical practice, when opposite Mr. T. Thompson's grocery store, they observed the reflection of a light in the top storey of that building. Presently they saw the shadow of a man in his shirtsleeves, who, apparently, looked out towards them, and then promptly put Out the light. As it was known by them that Mr. Thompson lived at Mount Eden, the "burgling" idea flashed across their minds, and in a few moments they picketted the front door, side gate, and placed scouts up the lane running in rear, in order to cut off the retreat of the enemy, and sent a message to the police station, that there were burglars in Mr. Thompson's store, and that the place had been surrounded by volunteer civil forces until the police could arrive. The mere mention of the word "burglars" was enough for the police, and Sergeant Fleming and Constable Douglas proceeded at "the double" to the locality where the supposed burglars were being held at bay. Constable Douglas at once took charge of the front door of the shop facing Viccoria-streat, while Sergeant Fleming cleared the seven foot corrugated fence which guarded the backyard like a bird, and on dropping down inside found a pair of nippers on the ground and the brass door-knob off, " proofs strong as Holy writ " that the enterprising burglar was about. He immediately called on Constable Douglas to jump over the fence to his assistance, and that gallant officer (lost, if a pound) getting "aback" from an excited spectator, went over the barrier, '' where constabulary duty was to be done " to the inspiriting strains of " Tarantara !" They proceeded to push and try the door, which was opened in a few moments from the inside by Mr. Thompson, jun., who put his head out, in a state of dishabillle, and wanted to know '' what all the row was about?" When mutual explanations were made, it came out that Mr. Thompson, junr., has slept on the premises ever since the burglary gang commenced operations. At the time the young men saw the reflection of the light, he was merely loading and capping his revolver for the night, and the sudden disappearance of the flash arose from his blowing out the candle and turning into bed. A feeling of disappointment, not unmixed with amusement, ran through tlie assembled crowd, aa they dispersed, having been cheated out of the sensation to which they had hoped they would be treated. The casualties were, that Sergeant Fleming lost his handcufis, which he subsequently recovered, and Mr. Thompson his temper, which he did not recover. It will not be healthy for burglars to pay a visit to the above grocery establishment, as Mr. Thompson is bsnt upon "putting a hole in them which the tailor won t mend."

The police authorities inform us that several of the published burglaries have had no existence, and have never even been reported by the alleged victims to the police.