STORE OF GOODS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25565, 19 June 1944, Page 4

STORE OF GOODS

DISCOVERY BY POLICE RAID ON PRIVATE RESIDENCE The police raid on a private residence in the north end of the city last week resulted in the discovery of a large store of goods, including many articles which, it is understood, correspond to the description of some of those reported as stolen in burglaries which have occurred in and around Dunedin during the past six months. The value of the hidden store, the discovery of which was probably the greatest of its kind ever made by the Dunedin police, is estimated to be several hundreds of pounds. Burglaries have been unusually frequent in the province during the past six months. Following the breaking and entering of two cribs at Brighton shortly after last Christmas, when a quantity of articles was . stolen, thefts continued at irregular intervals up till last Monday night, when an audacious robbeVy was committed at Naseby. The removal of a safe from Palmer’s Quarry a few weeks ago was followed by similar occurrences at Waikouaiti and then at Naseby. In the lastmentioned case the hotel was entered and a safe containing about £3OO in money as well as other valuables was stolen. A feature of each of these crimes was the removal of a safe, and this suggested that the thieves must have had some' means of conveyance. It was also suggested at the time of the Brighton crib robberies that a motor vehicle must have been used to take away the stolen articles. Another burglary was the theft from the store of Messrs J. Gray and Sons at Milton of goods valued at more than £3OO. The circumstances of this crime, which was committed 10 days ago, also indicated the use by the thieves of a motor vehicle in which to carry away the articles. Other burglaries have also been committed in the past few months, among the premises entered being Patterson’s Garage at Waikouaiti and Woolworths store in George street. ’