THEFT OF MAIL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18759, 16 July 1935, Page 11

THEFT OF MAIL

CHRISTCHURCH RAID SECOND IN TWO MONTHS (For Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night. It is feared that a considerable number of letters were stolen by thieves who raided nine pillar boxes in the suburbs last evening. In each case, heavy padlocks were wrenched off the posting boxes, which were found open and empty, save tor one or two letters, by the mail eolleetors when they went to make the first clearance since Saturday afternoon. This is The second occasion within two months that similar .thefts of mail matter have beca carried out. About six weeks ago a number of posting boxes were forced open, and numerous; letters, some containing postal notes, were stolen. Last night’s raid was evidently carefully planned, and it is believed that the thieves used a motor ear and carried out the nine thefts in quick time. The thefts are causing the postal authorities considerable concern. One official state dthat there were heavy postings over the week-end, and Ihtu there is only one day of the week that suburban posting boxes are not cleared —on Saturday night. He added that no clearances are made from the time the sub-offices close early on Saturday afternoon until clearances between 10 p.m. and midnight on Sundays.