INTRUDER CHASED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21239, 20 July 1932, Page 10

INTRUDER CHASED.

incident at DEVONPORTT.

FOUR HOUSES ENTERED.

JEWELLERY AND MONEY STOLEN. -

A resident of Yauxhall Road, Devonport, Mr. T. O'Brien, was awakened shortly before five o'clock yesterday morning by the sound, of footsteps outside his bedroom door. Jumping out of bed to hivestigate Mr. O'Brien came face to face with a young man who was standing in the doorway.

The intruder, taken by surprise, turned round and dashed down the stairs leading from the upper storey, where th& bedroom was situated, to the ground floor, and left the house through an open window in the kitchen. Mr. O'Brien followed the ?aan into the street, but was unable to overtake him. It is presumed that the intruder gained entrance by means of the kitchen window. _ Nothing was stolen.

Three other residences in •the same locality were entered. In each case the back door had been inadvertently left unlocked and the intruder, or intruders, apparently took advantage of this oversight. The householders had no knowledge that their homes had been broken into until they awoke at the usual hour in the morning and found their- back doors open.

At the home of Mrs. E. Hagen, Beaconsfield Street, the intruder ransacked a bedroom and stole an opal ring, valued at £4O, and £5 in money. Mr. John Elmsley, of Tui Street, lost a gold watch chain, which was removed from his bedroom, and Mr. R Pilkington, a visitor from Rotorua, who was staying at Caatlereagh Flats, Vauxhall Road> lost his gold watch and chain and £3 jn money. They were taken from clothing in the bedroom where he was sleeping. Castlereagh Flats are situated On the property adjoining Mr. O'Brien's home.

The thefts were particularly daring as in each instance the thief went into a bedroom where someone was sleeping. At Mr. Elmsley's house a milk jug which had been left near the back door was found partially emptied, and it is thought that the intruder drank some of the milk after passing through the door.