MENACE OF THIEVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21999, 4 January 1935, Page 10

MENACE OF THIEVES

NEED OF PRECAUTION DANGER IN SUBURBS The need for protecting homes against the activities of thieves is again necessary on the part of those residents leaving Auckland on holiday tours. In recent years thefts committed in the city and suburbs have indicated that there are burglars who keep a careful watch on houses which are likely to be vacated. Fortunately, during the present holiday season, there have been few cases of burglary. In recent months tho Auckland police have arrested several notorious house thieves, but the fact of their imprisonment does not remove the necessity for reasonable precaution on tho part of holiday-makers. In the early part of last year Auckland experienced an epidemic of house thefts, principally in Remuera, Epsom and Mount Eden. There has been nothing of consequence of that nature so far this vcar, but the experience of 19.14 showed that many of tho homes entered were those of persons absent from the city 011 holiday. There was also a distinct similarity in the general method of theft, and tho opinion was that the thieves responsible closely observed the houses they intended to entor.

Apart from the ordinary precaution of leaving homes securely locked it is advisable for persons proposing to be away from the city for any length of time to arrange for neighbours to pav regular visits to their homes to cnsuro that everything is in order. The police have been hampered greatly in the past by belated reports of thefts from people who have returned after an absence of several weeks. Early information concerning a crime is of great assistance to investigators.