A DARING BURGLAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19047, 18 December 1923, Page 5

A DARING BURGLAR.

BIG GELIGNITE EXPLOSION. NO BOOTY SECURED. (Pea United Pares Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 17. Shortly before 9 p.m. on Saturday the premises of Owens (Ltd.), tailors. Colombo street, were burglariously entered and th© safe damaged with a heavy charge of gelignite. The explosion was heard to a considerable distance, and a large crowd collected outside the shop, the attempt at burglary thus failing. Nothing was taken from the promises. The outrage was apparently committed by one man, ami he was most daring in his methods. The theft attempted was that of moneys collected at the Pilgrims’ Fete in the Botanic Gardens on Saturday, which the burglar probably thought were lodged in Mr Owen’s safe. Considerable cunning and daring were shown by the burglar. Ho apparently w-tched Owen's movements closely, and timed his entry when he knew Owen was unlikely to return, and also when the police patrols were changing over. Entry was effected through a window of Owen’s private office, which overlooks the yard at the roar of the premises. The burglar obtained a couple of small packing cases from the back grocery premises by which to get over the fence from the right-of-way into Owen’s yard. The back window he opened by breaking the glass just, above the catch. The safe was kent underneath Owen’s desk. This was knocked over fcv the burglar, and the safe dragged out and placed ou the floor with the door upwards. A strong charge of gelignite, considerably mere than was necessary, was then placed in the keyhole of the safe and the fuse set. ■ After lighting this, the burglar scorns to have left the shop by the front door (which was afterwards found to be unfastened) and to have gone across the road to await developments. The explosion, however, made such a terrific noise that he decided not to return to the shop, and made his escape unnoticed. Had the burglar boon in Owen’s office when the explosion occurred be would cither have been killed or injured. The effect of the explosion was to force the inside lining of tho door into the safe, thus making it secure; and the money in the safe was intact. Half a stick of gelignite was found on tho floor near the safe. The occupants of the residential flats over the shop had a terrifying experience.