SAFE DYNAMITED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19337, 29 May 1937, Page 8

SAFE DYNAMITED

ROBBERY AT STATION CHAOS IN BUILDING INTRUDERS DISTURBED (Por Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last nigbt. A heavy steel door of a safe was torn from its mountings and hurled through the kauri panelling of the counter, an inch thick, by a strong charge of gelignite, which was used by thieves who entered the railway station at Paparoa. Although 'they decamped with about £23 in notes and silver, the intruders were apparently disturbed while at work and left substantial sinus of money scattered about the premises.(

The doors were locked anil the windows were shuttered when the last member of the staff on duty loft the station at 5.30 p.m. on Thursday, and although the stationmaster's residence is only 100yds. from the blinking, nothing untoward was heard during the night. 'Die burglary was discovered at 5.45 o'clock this morning when the guard of a passing train noticed the door of the office open. Investigations revealed a scene of chaos inside the building. Although set in a concrete block Oft. square, the safe was shattered, pieces lying fill about the floor of the. office. The door, which had apparently received the full force of the explosion, had been thrown bodily through the ihie); panelling of the counter, which was extensively damaged. Scattered about the floor were a number of sucks which had apparently been employed to deaden Iho noise of liie explosion, and notes and small change wore lying over every part of the room. Entrance was apparently gained by forcing a window at the front of Ihe building.

A considerable sum of money contained in nu envelopn was overlooked by Ihe thieves, who also left several pounds in notes and silver lying on the floor. The sacks which were used by ihe intruders were apparently stolen from the home of a farmer several miles away. In addition, ihe thieves removed from here an overcoal and rug, and syphoned petrol from a car which this morning was found lo possess an empty tank.