MASKED BURGLAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10897, 11 May 1921, Page 5

MASKED BURGLAR

SENSATIONAL INCIDENT. A TERRIFIED WOMAN. A somewhat sensational incident is reported to have occurred at borough about 3 o'clock on Monday morning, when the house of Mr G. Burls (who is absent from home at present) was broken into, and a sum of money demanded from Mrs Burls, who, with her two young children, was sleeping in one of the bedrooms. From what can be gathered, the intruder gained entry to the premises' by breaking in the back door, which was secured by a wooden button, and, going into the bedroom occupied by Mrs s Burls and her two young children, awakened her, and demanded money. He was wearing a black mask, and had a pistol in his hand, which he pointed at and threatened to kill the child if money was not forthcoming. Being terrified, Mi's Burls drew out a small bag containing what money she bad from under a pillow, and gave it to the man, who then decamped and got into a motor-car, which he had left outside the gate with the engine running. Whether he had an accomplice is uncertain, but Mrs Burls heard him say when he got outside that he had struck the wrong place, or words to that effect.