SAFE RIFLED

Southland Times, Issue 21198, 26 September 1930, Page 7

SAFE RIFLED

BURGLARY IN CITI” . ENTRANCE GAINED TO GARAGE SUM OF .MONEY MISSING < A daring burglary, not altogether unattended with certain elements of bravado, was committed in the 11. and H. Motor garage during Wednesday night, as the result of which the intruder (or intruders) decamped with a sum of money. Entrance to the premises was obtained through the ladies’ lavatory, the burglar carefully placing each small pane of glass removed upon the grass flanking the right-of-way which runs alongside the Grand Hotel buildings from Dee street to Lcven street. Once inside, he lifted a slide whereby he climbed into the general office. Here he appropriated a few shillings from the petty cash box, but it was the safe in the manager's room opening out from the main office which claimed the concentrated attention of the intruder.

From the marks on the floor covering, it was apparent that the safe must have been worked on its corners out of the manager's room to the outer office. The task evidently proved somewhat stupendous, for the burglar forthwith requisitioned a hand barrow from the garage itself, where the treasure was then wheeled. The hinges were sawn off and the safe, having been prized open with tools lying conveniently accessible on the workmen’s benches, was ransacked of the major portion of its contents. From the two main drawers of the safe, over £3S in notes, cheques and cash was stolen but, strangely and almost incredibly enough, a cash box containing £l2 4/- was left untouched.

Nothing was known of the burglary until employees entered at the usual hour yesterday morning when they were naturally astonished to find the safe, minus its main door, resting in the centre of the garage with the tools and rifled drawers untidily strewn nearby. The police were immediately advised and inquiries set afoot.

The detectives ascertained that two of the cheques stolen, one for £5 1/9 and the other amounting to 11/6 had already changed hands before noon. The smaller amount was cashed at a local bank, while the larger cheque had been negotiated by a man ignorant of the manner by which it was obtained. The police, therefore, by such means were provided with cogent material upon which to institute their investigations and it is understood that an arrest is imminent.

It is considered that, in all probability, the burglary was the work of at least two men who must have been conversant both, with the premises entered and the neighbourhood, The forcing open of the safe could have been no light task, for it would probably take fully a couple of hours constant manoeuvring to remove its door by the unskilled labour used.