ATTEMPT ON A SAFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19217, 5 January 1926, Page 11

ATTEMPT ON A SAFE.

burglars use gelignite. AN UNSUCCESSFUL OPERATION. DISCOVERY AT CHRISTCHURCH. TBI. TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRIS rCHURCII, Monday. That burglars had used gelignite in an endeavour to blow open a safe was the discovery of members of the staff of Messrs. Packer and Jones, builders, Churchill Street, when they began work this morning. Smashing in a. rear window with a jemmy, the intruders had made their way into the manager's private office. From the appearance of the safe it was evident that they had rammed the explosive into the keyhole and then covered it with bricklayer's mortar, which they had secured from the rear of tho premises. They were foiled in their efforts to remove the door, and the only effect of the explosion was to inako a severe dent in one side of the safe and burst off the handle and fittings. When the burglars paid their visit is not known. The office had been closed since Thursday, and the discovery was not made until 7.30 this morning. That the intruders wero after the contents of the safe alone was shown by the fact that they overlooked a number of valuables which they might easily have taken away with them. This is tho second occasion on which burglars have entered Messrs. Packer and Jones' office during the last few months. From the manner they went about their work there can be little doubt that the persons responsible were old hands. No explosion was heard by any of tho residents in tho vicinity.