DARING BURGLARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22352, 28 August 1934, Page 8

DARING BURGLARS

A SENSATIONAL AFFAIR RANGIORA STORE RAIDED ATTACK ON TAXI DRIVER (Pm United Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, August 27. A determined and successful attempt to enter the Rangiora branch store of the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association was made on Saturday evening, when thieves first broke into the manager’s office and ransacked desks; then climbed to the roof, and, with the aid of tools, prised open the skylight of the second'storey. They descended into the main hardware department and stole two rifles, ammunition, hunting knives, razors, tobacco, axes and groceries. The thieves left by the doors to the back yard, where the goods were loaded into a car. It was reported to the police that a car had been stolen from Messrs Palmer and Doak’s garage, and later this was found abandoned at Southbrook. ‘ This car apparently had been used to remove the'goods. , The same gang is believed to have s>een concerned in an attack on a taxi driver near Kaiapoi last night. A sensational assault is reported from Kaiapoi, occurring at 9 p.m. Two men, believed to be members of the burglary gang, called on Mr G. L. Minifie, a taxi driver, of Hilton street, and engaged him to drive them to Waikuku. Two miles north of Kaiapoi, where high trees stand on both sides of the road, an isolated spot, one man sitting beside him threw - a cord round his face and attempted to strangle him. The other man, in the back seat, pulled Mr Minitie’s face down and attempted to put the cord round his neck. Mr Minifie clamped one foot on the brake, sounded the horn, and tried to open the door, shouting to passing cyclists. His cries scared the assailants, who loosened their grip. Mr Minifie slipped out of the car, ana ran back towards Kaiapoi, but met a motorist, with whom he drove back to the taxi. They found it empty. The men had attempted to drive it, but, not being experts, had failed. Mr Minifie later informed the police, and detectives are investigating. Evidently the men had made' an attempt to, drive the car away, for it had been interfered with. Not being experts at driving, they had managed to flood the carburettor with petrol and choke the engine, so that it would not start. In half an hour Mr Minifie was able to get the car going again, and he drove it hack to Kaiapoi. He informed the police of his adventure, and took part in the search which was immediately launched by the police, and carried on throughout the night. Although the attack on Mr Minifie was short and sharp, he has plenty of marks to show the severity of the treatment to which he was subjected. A large red weal was made by the cord, extending round the right side of his face and on to his upper lip. His right ear was also cut and bruised, and there are bruises over both his eyes. He considered that he had had a remarkably lucky escape, and believes that if the cyclists had not come along and frightened his assailants things i would have gone badly for him. Ho was not given any warning, and there was nothing in the demeanour of the men when they called at his house to show what a desperate plan they had up their sleeves. They were carrying a fairly largo parcel, but at the time this did not give Mr Minifie any room for thought, except in so far as he observed that;, they -were young men of short build, v and were" : dressed as labourers. •' TWO MEN ARRESTED (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. August 27. Henry Crawford and James Ernest Baggstrom, both aged 20 years, were arrested near ton this evening. They had in their possession goods, including two rifles, alleged to have been stolen from the New Zealand Farmers’ Co-operative Association’s branch at Rangiora on Saturday night.