WANGANUI THEFTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23117, 16 August 1938, Page 11

WANGANUI THEFTS

liIFLES AND AMMUNITION OWNER DISTURBS INTRUDERS BOY OF 16 APPREHENDED [by TKLEGHArn—OWN correspondent] WANGANUI, Monday The sports goods shop of R. E. Cuthbertson and Company, in St. Hill Street, was broken into early last night and a quantity of rifles and ammunition removed to a motor-car by the offenders. They were disturbed in the act. Following a chase a boy about 16 years of age was apprehended. As Mr. Cuthbertson was pulling in to the kerb outside the shop, which was in darkness, he saw two persons lurking (in the 'doorway. When ho called out they made off into a vacant section and Mr. Cuthbertson gave chase, but was unable to locate them in the darkness. However, ho heard someone breathing, and caught a boy whom he brought back to the shop. There he telephoned the police, and kept the boy in the shop until the arrival of a detective. Entrance had been gained to the shop by breaking a panel of glass in the doorway and working the lock. A heavy steel jemmy was found lying in the roadway. A sedan car parked outside the shop was found to belong to a Wanganui East resident. Jt had been removed from Victoria Street on Friday night. In the back of the vehicle were found several guns and a quantity of ammunition removed from the shop. Mr. Cuthbertson found an unloaded revolver tinder th? counter of the shop. Also under the counter were, a motor driver's licence, a padlock frflm the gate next door to the shop, and a sack containing belts of cartridges. A pair of leather gloves lay near by. The boy caught had his pockets filled with light calibre bullets. The car found outside the shop was found to be fitted with a set of W'averley number plates over the original plates, tho outer set of plates being those from a car which had been missing since Saturday. The Wanganui police are expected to arrest two other persons allegedly connected with the incident.