ROBBERIES AT SEA

Southland Times, Issue 21087, 20 May 1930, Page 8

ROBBERIES AT SEA

MONEY TAKEN FROM MAKURA.

(Per United Press Association.)

Wellington, May 19.

A series of apparently systematic robberies on the Royal Mail liner Makura was brought to a climax on the vessel’s last trip from Auckland to Sydney’ when over £5O was stolen from a drawer in the bar room.

The vessel reached Wellington from Sydney to-day. On three previous trips the vessel’s bar had been robbed, invariably on the day before she reached Sydney, and the losses on those occasions were £22, £l4 and £2l. The last robbery occurred on the morping of Monday, May 12. A steward heard a noise, but took no notice, thinking it came from the deck above where seamen were working. Some time later it was found that the bar room door had been broken open with a chisel and over £5O stolen from a drawer, apparently opened with the same implement. Most of the money was the property of stewards who had left it in the bar room for safe keeping. In response to a wireless message from 1 the, captain, the Sydney Water Police met the vessel on her arrival. Although investigations were made, no one was detained.