BURGLARS AT WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20874, 14 November 1929, Page 10

BURGLARS AT WORK

HOUSE AND SHOP RANSACKED. A SUBSTANTIAL HAUL. (Special to Daix/t Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 13. The home of Sir S. D. Wallis, 53 Fifield terrace, Opawa, was ransacked by burglars last Saturday evening, and clothes and cash to the extent of £SO in all were stolen. On the same evening the thieves visited th§ confectionery shop of Mrs A. E. Phillips, Wilsons road, where some of the goods stolen from Mr Wallis's were left behind, Mr Wallis and his wife went to the theatre that evening, and on their return about 11 p.m. they found that the whole house had been ransacked. Every drawer and cupboard had been broken into and Hie less valuable of the contents thrown about. About £6 in cash was taken. Several bundles of clothes were left lying about, which leads to the belief that the thieves were surprised before they could complete their work. Mr Wallis states that there are plenty of hiding places in his grounds. The thieves gained an entry through the dining room window, which was found open. All the doors and windows had been opened, presumably so that a quick “ getaway ” could be effected. At Mrs Phillips’s shop the thieves entered by the back window, Gandies were lit as the intruders were evidently not equipped with torches, and cakes taken from the shop were eaten in a back room of the shop, to which there are no living rooms attached. It would appear that they spent some time there, Mrs Phillips has been unable to judge what actually was taken from the shop as goods could be removed from the shelves without her noticing any difference in the stock. Several articles of attire, comprising a part of the clothing taken from Mr Wallis’s house, was found in the back yard next day. HOUSE SET ON FIRE. NOTHING OF VALUE STOLEN. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH. November 13. After ransacking a house at 64 Antigua street south, owned and occupied by Mr E. J. Bell, paperhangcr and painter, at about 9.30 last evening, burglars set the house on fire. The fire brigade’s quick turn out practically confined the blaze to the kitchenette, where it had started. Air and Mrs Bell were both out visiting friends, and no fires had been left in the house. The beds had been upset and tl.e bedclothes strewn about. Cupboards had been opened and the wardrobes searched. There was a small safe in the kitchen, but this had not been opened. As far ns could be found nothing of value had been stolen. Apparently the burglars bad got into the house through a window opening on to a motor drive, which was found open. The building was insured for £756, the paporbauging stock for £250, and the contents of the house for £2OO, nil in the A.P.A. office. COUNTY OFFICES ROBBED. STRONGROOM BLOWN OPEN. (Pee United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, November 13. Some time during the week-end, probably on Sunday night, the strong room and safe at the Pa pa run County Office was blown . open. The thieves stole cheques to the value of £283 and £4!) in notes and silver of the county’s money and £ll, the property of the county clerk, Mr G. Maginnes. The steel door of the large strong room, standing about six feet high, was forced by explosives, and the cash box was taken. When the woman assistant clerk discovered the burglary on Monday morning she endeavoured to cal] the police by telephone, but found that the wires were cut. Though the windows nerc closed on Saturday they were not fastened, and it was by this means that the burglars gained an entry. There is a record of all the cheques stolen, the largest of which was for £10!) 13s Od. Four bankings hud been made during the week, including three on the Thursday preceding the robbery.