BURGLARY IN THE CITY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1533, 18 July 1901, Page 23

BURGLARY IN THE CITY

ROBBERY AT A DRAPER’S SHOP. A report that Messrs Finlay McLeod and Co.’s drapery store, at the corner of Cuba and Ghuznee streets, had been burglariously entered during tb© night, and the firm’s safe broken open with dy™ namite, caused great consternation in business circles ©arly on Friday mom» ing. On inquiry, it was learned that when Mr McLeod returned to the shop at 8.30 yesterday morning, after having mad© everything secure on the previous evening, h© found that somebody bad tampered with one of the windows facing Ghuznee street. His suspicions being aroused, be hurriedly proceeded to investigate. He then discovered that the fanlight over the back entrance bad been broken, and that the doors were open. Inside tb© shop all was confusion. Th© safe, Mr McLeod noticed at once, bad been removed from its usual stand and broken open. Dynamite had apparently been used, as a piece of fuse was found lying near at band, and a blanket, evidently used to muffle the noise of an explosion, bad been blown over an iron railing, from which it still hung suspended. A crowbar bearing the name of the Wellington City Tramways was also found in the shop, and had the appear* ance of having been used in prizing open th® safe. The safe had contained £lO4. Of this sum £2l 13 s was in cheques and drafts. This amount may b© recovered. The balance was in notes, gold and silver. Thirty shillings in gold was found among the litter on the floor. About £2O worth of clothing was also taken.

A Chinese neighbour reports having heard a sound like the breaking of glass at about 2 o’clock and again at about 3 o’clock. _