A PLUCKY SHOPKEEPER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22744, 3 December 1935, Page 9

A PLUCKY SHOPKEEPER

INTRUDER OVERPOWERED HELD TILL POLICE ARRIVE i (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 2. An intruder who was surprised behind the counter of a shop in Hurstmere_ road, Takapuna, early to-night was overpowered by the occupier of the shop after a brief struggle and ivas held until the police arrived. The shopkeeper, Mr E. Selwyn, a middle-aged man, suffered no injury in the encounter, but he was considerably shaken as the result. Mr Selwyn's suspicions were aroused by the behaviour of a young man who entered the shop about 6.30 and made conversation for some time. Eventually Mr Selwyn announced his intention of having his dinner, and left the shop by a door that leads to a billiard room at the back after watching the young man go out into the street. Once in the billiard room Mr Selwyn looked back through a glass panel into the shop, and was surprised to see the man behind the tobacco counter bending over the till, which was open. He immediately rushed back into the shop and grappled with the man, who made a stout resistance. After a brief struggle, in which he narrowly missed severe blows on the face, Mr Selwyn succeeded in overpowering the man, whom he held prostrate behind the counter. He called for his daughter to summon the police and was still holding the intruder when a constable arrived a few minutes later and took him in charge.