SAFE-BREAKER FAILS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 842, 10 December 1929, Page 1

SAFE-BREAKER FAILS

EXPLOSION JAMS LOCK BURGLARY IN DUNEDIN Press Association DUNEDIN, Today. Dunedin’s safe-breaker is still active. Last night the premises of the Otago Farmers’ Co-operative Association in Crawford Street were broken into through the skylight and a cash-box in the strong room, containing about £5, was stolen. Explosive was used and an attempt was made to blow open a safe inside the strongroom, but the result was abortive, for the lock was so damaged that the services of a locksmith were necessary this morning to open the door. The nightwatchman, who was patrolling the block, saw nothing to indicate what was going on. TWO WEEK-END ATTEMPTS BANK AND OFFICE ENTERED BOTH FAIL BADLY From Our Own Correspondent DUNEDIN, Today. A branch office of the Dunedin Savings Bank, in Cargill Road, was entered during the week-end and a safe blown open by dynamite. As no money is ever left on the branch premises the burglar got nothing except a five-chambered revolver, which was taken from Its place under the teller’s desk.. When the staff came in on Monday morning they found the front of the safe blown away, and lying two feet from its place, while the books kept in the safe were thrown in confusion on the floor. Entry had apparently been gained through a window at the back of the building. On the same night the offices of the Minister of Railways, the Hon. W. B. Taverner, in King Edward Street nearby, were entered and an attempt made to break open the safe. Two plain clothes constables saw from the railway embankment that the skylight was broken and went to investigate. Before they could reach the door a man dashed out and ran off toward Cargill Road. They followed him, but he was too fast and escaped. When they inspected Mr. Taverner’s offices they found that everything had been prepared to blow open the strong room. It is thought that the burglar was waiting for the 3 a.m. train to pass, so that the noise of the explosion might be covered. Next morning two boys found a revolver, a length of fuse, some detonators, a cold chisel and a jemmy wrapped in brown paper lying behind a bush at the entrance to the St. Kilda beach. Later the revolver was identified as the one that had been stolen from the bank.