BURGLARS' HUGE BOOTY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19525, 3 January 1927, Page 9

BURGLARS' HUGE BOOT Y.

LONDON STORE ENTERED* JEWELLERY CALMLY STOLEN* ESTIMATED LOSS £IO,OOO. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright* (Received 5.5 p.m.) Sun. LONBOJi# Dec* 30. An amazing burglary was commuted at Harrod's Stores, the thieves - securing jewellery of ah estimated value of £IO,OOO t'rom a.stock worth £50,000. Tho burglary was" carried out in leisurely fashion by thieves who are believed to Lave secreted themselves in the building at night and -to -have left in relays in taxi-cabs. An open side-door led to the discovery of the crimo early this morning. Only the valuables which were stored in vaults' escaped the hands of tho experts. After the burglars had forced the steel doors of the inner jewellery store they spent at least 10 hoars in prising open strong cases and selecting everything of real value. They packed iho goods in trunks and suitcases, which they stole from an adjoining department. Tho manager asserts that the thieve® must, havo been intimately acquainted with tho routine of tho establishment. They left through a door which had been boarded up for years.

Tho recording clocks show that Harrod's watchmen visited every department ovary two hours. The thieves apparently hid under tho dust- sheets covering tho jewel cases each i:imo tho watchmen made their rounds.

It is stated that four burglars were concerned in tho robbery. They had tr> break through teven tire-proof iron doors to reach their booty.

Whilo they awaited the arrival, of an accomplice with a taxi-cab tho thieves rested cm a setteo and consumed a stolen breakfast of fruit and wine.

They removed 10 hales of merchandise whieh covered tho disused door through which they subsequently escaped.

Altogether they traversed 11 departments without attracting tho firemen, watchmen, • telephonists, timekeepers or electricians who wero working in the building.