SMART POLICE WORK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 15, 30 December 1911, Page 5

SMART POLICE WORK.

AFTERNOON BURGLARY IN

NEW PLYMOUTH

AN ARREST MADE

New Plymouth, December 29. At a quarter to live yesterday afternoon a resident of East Devon 'Street reported to Senior Sergeant Dart that his house had been broken into during the afternoon while the ladies of the house were away shopping. The Sergeant picked up DetectiveSergeant Boddam, and immediately repaired to the scene of the alleged house-breaking. They found that the entrance had probably been effected through a window. Several rooms had been ransacked, and all articles which could be identified were left untouched, such as articles of jewellery, but-sums of money had been abstracted from purses which were in drawers. A careful search was made for finger prints, but none were found A careful examination of the linoleums in the hall and kitchen was made, and unmistakable footprints of a work’ng man’s boot, quite different from that worn by members of the household, were discovered. These were carefully measured and are being protected. It was subsequently ascertained that a strange man, slightly under the influence of liquor, had visited a house opposite, and had been ejected. Similar footprints at this house were seen to those on the linoleum.

A description of the man was obtained and the alert officers immediately proceeded in the direction of Fitzroyl At ton minutes past six an individual was arrested. The prisoner was taken to the lock-up, and he will be brought up this morning and a remand asked for. The linoleum has been taken up. and experiments will bo made with'a view to photographing the footprints, which will no doubt he watched with interest.