BURGLARIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 15

BURGLARIES.

THEFT FROM DRAPERY STORE. AUCKLAND. February 3. J-he general drapery establishment of A. and M. Booth, in Manukau road. Royal Oak, was entered some time between 6 p.m. on Tuesday and 8 a.m. vesterdav. An examination of stock revealed the fact that a large quantity had been removed, consisting of dress uoods, crepe-de-chine hosiery, etc., estimated to be worth between £5O and £lOO. The burglars appcared to have taken their time over the business, as only the best things in the shop were removed. Other articles were throii n on the floor, and often were trampled underfoot and spoilt. Miss Booth says that the state of the shop floor reminded her of an Irish stew. There was such a heterogeneous collection of drapery, matches, and goods lying out. Entrance to the premises had been made through a window it the rear of the shop, these windows are provided with wooden shutters on the inside with a wooden bar across the centre. After a pane of "lass had been broken the shutter was levered out at the bottom and then pushed down on to the floor. The neighbourhood is becoming notorious for burglaries. There is scarcely a shop in this block that has not been entered, or an attempt made to enter it. The last big burglary took place a few months ago. when the safe was removed from the post office at Royal Oak and carried half a mile away up Mount Albert road. On that occasion the thieves borrowed an oxy-acetone welding plant from a garage with a view to breaking open the safe. A petition is now being signed bv all the business people in the vicinity of the Royal Oak asking for more police protection. About 30s in cash was taken from Miss Booth s shop, in addition to the goods stolen.

BIG HAUL OF RINGS. DANNEVIKKE, Februatv 3. In the past Dam.evirke has been renuirKably free from anything in the nature or serious burglaries, but this record was broken on \\ ednesduy night bv a sensational coup in the premises of Stubbs and Millar, jewellers, whose shop is situated in the heart of the business area and is usually lighted all night. Between 10.30 p.m. and 0.30 a.m. the shon was visited and lobbed.

An entrance was effected through the front door being forced. The intruder then by some means unlocked the strongroom and abstracted goods, mostly diamond rings, valued, after the proprietors had taken stock, at about £lOOO.

IS hen the nightwatchman passed about 11 p.m. he noticed that the light usually burning over the . afe was out. He tried the door and found it locked. On returning about an hour later the door was unlocked. He informed the police, who made a search and found the safe open. 1 here was no trace of the intruder, who apparently left the same way as he entered.

Whether the coup was the work of cracksmen who had been operating at the railway stations at Levin and I’ahiatua is not known, but there are various circumstances connected with the affair which would tend to indicate that thi§ at least was not one of their exploits, as the methods employed were quite different. The police have the matter in hand.

ONLY FOURPENCE SECURED. WELLINGTON. February 3. 'lhe premises of Messrs Donnelly and Son, Cuba stret, were broken into on Wednesday night and the cash register taken away. It appeared to be the onlj’ thin- touched, and it was found later in "the yard at the back of R. Hannah and Co.’s factory. The drawer, however, was missing. The drawer carried away by the burglars held fourpence.