A BURGLAR SCARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12184, 2 February 1903, Page 5

A BURGLAR SCARE.

SCENE IN QUEEN-STREET.

A FALSE ALARM.

A SCENE occurred in Queen-street shortly before eight o'clock last night, which plainly showed in a somewhat humorous fashion the alertness of the public mind upon the question of burglars and their nefarious profession. As is usual on Sunday nights, after church, the main thoroughfare was well thronged-with jpromenaders, when suddenly those then passing along in the vicinity of Mr. A. Kohn's jewellery establishment, were startled to hear from within the premises named the insistent tingle of the electric burglar-alarm bell. Instantly the magic word "burglar" flashed through several brains, and was emitted from many lips, and in a twinkling the crowd gathered about the doorway of Mr. Kohn's shop, and peered into the dimly-lit interior. Not afew pulses beat the quicker at the thought of the capture which might be about to ensue under their eyesin which may be they might even assist. The police were promptly on the scene, and way was made for them to come to the iron gateway barring the front entrance to the shop. This impediment was promptly scaled by the force, who were aided in vigorous fashion by a jolly Jack Tar from 11.M.8.. Archer. Just as the police were about to seek admission through the door the figure of a man was discerned inside the shop by the crowd. As the former came towards the entrance the excitement of the crowd increased, and they raised a howl of " Here comes the burglar —close in on him." By this time the man inside had reached the door and accosted the police, to whom he protested truthfully that he was none other than the proprietor, Mr. 'Kohn himself, and no burglar at all. He informed them that everything was in order, and explained how, through a mishap on his own part the whole affair had come about. The crowd, however, was not satisfied, and for some time persisted in trying to have Mr. Kohn arrested. The latter endeavoured to get through the doorway, but the people in their eagerness to secure him for " burgling" his own premises, closed round him, and all his efforts to satisfy them that he was not v one of the gang," and that nothing was wrong, were unavailing. Fortunately the humour of the situation was prevented from assuming a serious aspect by the arrival on the scene of another member of the force, who knew Mr. Kohn personally, and who succeeded in pacifying and dispersing the crowd. It appears that, happening to be in town, Mr. Kohn had .looked into his shop in order to see that everything was in order. When inside he by accident touched one of the connections of the alarm, and this set the bell going merrily, and drew the attention of the passers by. It was whilst he was making for the key of the alarm to shut it off that the crowd caught sight of him and raised the cry of burglar. The incident shows that should any gentleman of burglarious intent be caught whilst engaged in his calling," he may look for a bad quarter of an hour at the hands of the average Auckland crowd. Mr. Kohn may console himself for his rather alarming experience with the knowledge that the guardians of the law, in their efforts to protect his property, would, had such been needed, have had plenty of assistance last night.