HOUSE RANSACKED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20218, 1 April 1929, Page 8

HOUSE RANSACKED.

LOSS AT MOUNT EDEN.

GOLD AND NOTES STOLEN.

MUCH WANTON DAMAGE DONE.

Not satisfied with the theft o! money in gold and notes, of a value of some £l4, thieves who broke and entered the home of Mr: and Mrs. J. Derig, of 46, Shackleton Road, Mount Eden, on Saturday afternoon, embarked on a campaign of vandalism and wanton damage. A sight of the utmost confusion met the eyes of Mrs. Derig and a companion when they arrived home at about a quarter to six on Saturday evening. Their first impressions on entering their gale were that the house had been entered, but the extent of the thieves' depredations was not realised until they reached the back of the house, and found, first, a window forced open, and' then on further investigation, personal property from chests of drawers, trunks and tables torn, trampled on, and thrown about.

,Au evening dress had been pulled in-side-out, and damaged, new hats belonging to Mrs. Derig were on the floor, ruined by being trampled on, and a good suit was found torn and spoiled on the floor. The loss in money was severe, but is not regarded by the owners as being so serious as the damage wrought among personal possessions.

Among the notes and coins stolen were several foreign gold coins, including four American ones. Another gold coin, worth about £2, was either overlooked or dropped, and was found afterwards by the owners.

A £5 note and tho contents of a child's money box were included in the total loss. Tho money box, with the paint scratched off in opening, was discovered yesterday morning hidden under other things on a quilt in the front bedroom. Several Mexican coins inside a toy wooden hat of Mexican design were cither overlooked, or did not appeal to the thieves.

Papers, among •which valuables might have been kept, were tossed in ail directions. The acts of vandalism committed happily ended with movable property. Furniture was not touched to any serious extent, but anything that could be thrown into disorder was ransacked and scattered, with bewildering results. Those who broke into the house, and it would seem there were two or more of them, were not equipped with the usual tools of professional burglars. A pair of common garden shears was first but unsuccessfully used, and then a large pair of scissors, wliich was broken in the attempt, eventually successful, to prise the catch off the window. All doors and windows had been securely locked by Mr. and Mrs. Derig when they left home at about mid-day on Saturday.