COOL BURGLARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23809, 9 November 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

COOL BURGLARS

Store Looted Leisurely at Week-end

TJURGLARS who apparently had planned every move carefully worked unhurriedly over a recent week-end to loot the New York shop and workrooms of Emma A. Maloof, Inc.. of rare linens and expensive lingerie. Although the police said the value of the stolen merchandise was 5000 dollars. .Miss Maloof said it was nearer 15.000 dollars. The loss was not covered by insurance. The theft was discovered early on the Monday when the shop opened and an employee found the racks *and showcases stripped of their stock and a gaping hole about 12in. by 18in. in the side wall of the balcony adjoining the store of the Palette Art Company. " Thin Man " That the thieves had operated at leisure was indicated by a half-con-sumed sandwich, empty beverage containers and innumerable cigarette butts left on the balcony steps. The burglars also discarded the jimmy, crowbars, and chisels they had used to break I through'the Gin. terra cotta wall that separates the stores The size of the opening hinted that one of the burglars was a small, thin man who passed the loot to his confederates. That was about all the police had to go on. They said they found no

fingerprints. "The balcony is not visible from the street. . , Entry to. the art store was gained by a pass key" or by springing a lock. After pocketing the few dollars in the petty cash box there the men set to work breaking through . the wall. As further evidence that the had been planned meticulously the police pointed out that the doors of the lingerie shop are secured by an electric protective system, while the art shop lias nq sucli safeguard. . ■: .... .