FIRE FOLLOWS THEFT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20564, 15 May 1930, Page 12

FIRE FOLLOWS THEFT.

SHOPS IN CHRISTCHURCH. FOUR DOORS SMASHED. [iir TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCnURCH. Wednesday. A fire attended. l>y sensational circumstances - occurred at tho corner of Clvdo Road and Fendalton early this morning. Thieves raided a block of four shops by smashing in the front doors, and then set lire to one, a tobacconist's shop, tenanted by Mr. Fred Whiteman. This shop was gutted, and the other buildings were damaged bv smoke and water. Iho fire brigade effected a good save. Subsequently the police found an abandoned motor-car in Linwood with a stock of stolen tobacco in the vehicle. Although the objective of the thieves was probably the money left, overnight by tho occupants of the shops, this was overlooked. That tho thieves intended to .make a thorough job is evidenced from the fact that in Mr. Birch's establishment a pair of trousers had been taken out. of the shop into a back room and placed on a gas ring ready to ignito. These were not damaged. The "thieves apparently either forgot about (hem or became alarmed. Later in tho night thieves, believed to be the same as in the former instance, entered a shop in Stanmore Road, Linwood, and stole £l4 in cash from the till. They wero disturbed and decamped, leaving behind on the road a motor-car which was stolen last evening from Cambridge Terrace.