SHOP TILLS ROBBED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21518, 15 June 1933, Page 10

SHOP TILLS ROBBED

CASES IN PONSONBY many premises visited SUMS OF MONEY TAKEN For some weeks past one particular form of theft, the robbing of shop tills in daylight hours during the temporary absence of the proprietor, has-been prevalent in the Newton and Three Lamps shopping areas. The occupiers of a number of small shops in different parts of Ponsonby Road have lost sums of money ranging from a few shillings to over one pound. It is believed that the thieves have been boys or youths probably out of employment. Shops have been robbed at different hours of the day, several having been visited at busy shopping times when there were many people in the vicinity. At 2.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the bakery and cake-shop of Jtfr. N. J. Denness, next to the Britannia Theatre, was visited. All kinds of businesses have attracted the attention of the thieves, including dairies, booksellers and tobacconists premises. In isolated instances when tobacconists have been robbed, small quantities of cigarettes have been missed from the shelves. Apparently the shops have been well watched before being entered, as only those with small counters giving easy access to the till have been selected. Those with angle-counters and wide showcases have not suffered. The thieves apparentlv wear soft-soled shoes, as in the cases" where the proprietors were just inside their rooms at the back of the shop they have heard no sound. The intruders have been careful to muffle the small bell which rings when most tills are opened. As a result of the thefts, knowledge of which has spread along Ponsonby Road, many shopkeepers now keep very little money in their tills.