BURGLARS AT WORK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20362, 20 March 1928, Page 9

BURGLARS AT WORK.

GENERAL STORES VISITED. LARGE “HAULS” OBTAINED. (Special to Rail? Times.) CHRISTCHURCH March 19Two general stores in North Canterbury were visited by burglars on Saturday evening, and at Woodend the thieves stole goods to the value of £IOO. Earlier in the evening they had been disturbed at Balcairn, and had departed hurriedly in a motor car, taking with them a quantity of tobacco. The store of Mr C .C. Bourne, of Woodend, is detached from his residence and about 20yds away from it. Late on Satur. day evening passers-by noticed a motor car standing unattended in the road near the store, but paid no attention to it. An unsuccessful attempt was made to force a window with a motor tyre lever, and then access was gained by forcing a door at the side of the store. Once inside the marauders must have worked hard. They emptied sacks of sugar and potatoes on to the floor and used the sacks in which to carry away the loot. They packed into the sacks KXK) cigarettes, a quantity of tobacco, and soma men’s clothing. They carried out to the car goods of a total value of just over £IOO. Mr Bourne did not discover his loss until Sunday morning. Last night burglars broke into the shop of Mr M. E. Norton, tobacconist, in Ferry road, and stole a quantity of cigarettes and tobacco, and a few bottles of hair oil of a total value of £l7. The premises of the Bridge Store, Dallington, owned by Mrs M. Wheeler, were broken into on Friday evening at 8.30, whilst Mrs Wheeler was serving at the counter. A burglar entered the lighted dining room after opening the window with a jemmy, and stole between £lO and £2O in cash from a bag on the table in the dining room. Mrs Wheeler was only about 12ft away, but she heard nothing.