DARING BURGLARS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21196, 29 November 1930, Page 9

DARING BURGLARS.

DISTURBED BY CONSTABLE. ESCAPE THROUGH BACK-YARDS. (Per United - Press Association.) BLENHEIM, November 28. Two daring thieves were operating in Blenheim in the early hours of yesterday . morning when, after an unsuccessful attempt to enter a shop in Alfred street, they were surprised in-the act of getting together a “ swag ” in the premises in Market street north, occupied by Clifford M‘Kay, mercer and men’s outfitter. They stole the sum of £2 in money, but decamped when disturbed, abandoning bundles of goods which they had apparently intended to remove. Mr M‘Kay was summoned by the police in the early morning, and arrived at the shop to learn that the front door had been burst open and the place ransacked. The door, which had been forced, bore marks of an inch wide jemmy just below the lock. The contents of the shop had been turned topsy-turvy, the floor and counterNieing littered with stock which the marauders had sorted over. They had selected the best quality articles for removal. Constable Morrison, who was on night, duty, saw a light burning in the shop window ,of M’Kay’s premises, and proceeded to investigate. With consummate coolness the thieves,' in order to work in comfort, had switched on the light inside the shop, but, unknown to them, the switch also operated the lights in the window, which had attracted the constable’s attention. When the policeman approached, a man, who had an armful of clothing, dropped his swag and, eluding the constable, bolted from the premises. Behind the counter was another man In the act of pocketing money which had just been removed from the till. He wore an overcoat, the collar of which was turned well up, and he had his hat pulled’ down over his eyes. The astonished burglar turned and fled intoabkek room when he saw the constable, and the latter immediately gave chase. Expecting a trap, however, the burglars had prepared for a hurried departure by opening the back door as well as the front door, and the constable’s quarry showed a clean pair of heels, making their escape through, backyards adjoining the premises.

It was discovered later in the morning, that an attempt had also been made to force the door of F. Thomas’s tobacconist shof) in Alfred street, but tlw lock had resisted the attack. It is believed that the same men were concerned, because the marks on the door tally with the size of the jemmy used to effect an entry .to M‘Kay’s premises.