ELUSIVE BURGLARS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 13

ELUSIVE BURGLARS.

THE* CHRIST CHURCH GANG. "FRIGHTENED BY PUBLICITY." DETECTIVES STILL BAFFLED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Publicity has frightened the " borers," the most enterprising gang of burglars that has ever operated in Christchurch. This is the belief of officers at the Central Police Station, who say that the men whose depredations involved goods worth over £2OOO in less than six months' activity are now lying low. It is thought probable that they have moved on to fresh fields. Their last offence was at a chemist's shop in Papanui shortly before Christmas. They stole £6O worth of seasonal goods from the shop, but since nothing has been heard of them. Detectives have been out day and night, second-hand shops and pawnbrokers' establishments have been combed, suspicious houses have been watched, and scores of people have been questioned, but the identity of the gang is shrouded in mystery. " They are not disposing of the stolen goods in Christchurch," a police officer said to-day. " They are old-timers. Publicity robbed them of some of their nerve, their own notoriety frightened them, and they are lying low." Detectives contend that the " borers " use a template when operating to serve as a guide for the bit. They work in the dark, having recourse to a torch, it is believed, only when necessary. More than half an hour, it has been estimated by experts, must have been involved in boring the holes to gain access to one citv warehouse, where the stolen goods were valued <\t £2OO. Having effected an entrance through an outer door, they had to bore their way through two others before reaching their goal. One man, at least, apparently remains on guard while the others work. The detectives have not the slightest doubt this is how the " borers " remain at liberty. "No worse gang has ever operated in Christchurch, probably in New Zealand," said the officer. " They set a fast pace and maintained it to the end. I doubt if any more will be heard of them in Christchurch."