FOUND AT BREAKFAST

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12643, 31 December 1926, Page 19

FOUND AT BREAKFAST

POKER CHASE FOLLOWS MEAL . HOUSE RANSACKED. A.during series >of burglaries was, carried out by at least four men in the early hours at four houses in East Gardens, Tooting. ■ The haul by the men did not amount to much. They were interrupted while eating a meal in one of the houses, and chased by the occupier who armed himself with a poker. The burglars were seen by Mr Bailey, who wAs roused by his wife. She saw Ofat, a light was burning in the kitchen, nnd as about two hours previously she had heard noises, she awakened her husband.

When Mr Bailey went through to the kitchen, he stumbled over an armchair, which apparently had been placed for the purpose of obstructing any pursuer, and when he recovered his balance he 6aw four men dash out of the hack door of the scullery, disappear down outside stairs, ‘ and make their escape by running along the back garden and climbing over the railway line at the rear of the pro aises. From Mr Bailey’s house a purse containing money, a dress ring, and a slave bangle were stolen, and on the table there wore the remnants of a meal. At the house of Mr and Mrs Chappell the men entered through the scullery jvindow, and in order that they should not soil their clothes with paint, the scullery having been newly painted, they carefully spread a piece of cloth over the ledge. Making their way through to the kitchen, they lit the gas and placed two kitchen chairs under the knob of the door leading to the bedrooms. They ransacked every draw.er and cupboard, but threw aside silver knives and forks and a canteen service, and only took away a gold brancelet watch.