A CRACKSMAN AT WORK.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1359, 21 June 1918, Page 9

A CRACKSMAN AT WORK.

BURGLARIES AT ASHBURTON. AN IMPUDENT INTRUSION. A cracksman who appears to be of a rather daring nature, has disturbed Ashburton this week. Two residents of the borough have received nocturnal visits from him. The second adventure wa3 really a double-barrelled crime, both the residence and the office of Mr Henry Stephenson being entered. The burglary at the house was an impudent one, and the circumstances suggest that it was not the work of an amateur. J Mr Henry Stephenson, an auctioneer and land agent, lives about a mile and ja-half away from his office in Haveloek i Street. During the day he had held a 'clearing sale in Ashburton, and eonse;quently a fair amount of cash was locked up in his office. Cheques, however, and some cash had been banked during the day. In accordance with his custom, lie retired fairly early last night. About 1(1 minutes to one o'clock this morning, Mrs Stephenson was awakened by the barking of the housedog. She aroused her husband, who quietened the dog, and then returned to bed. Nothing more disturbed Mr and Mrs Stephenson during the night, but subsequent disclosures showed | that the burglar had actually been | within a few feet of them during the night.

The first intimation which Mr Stephenson had of any special significance being attached to the barking of his dog was a telephoned inquiry from his office, this morning, as to whether he had left his keys on a desk in the office. Mr Stephenson replied that he had not; as usual, he had placed them on a mantelpiece in his bedroom, on retiring for the night. Of course, the inquiry drew his attention to the fact that the keys had been taken from the mairtelpieee, together with a purse containing a sum of £6. Possessed of the keys, the marauder apparently had entered the office by the back door, which was found open. He had opened the safe, and the cash-box, and had stolen £39 17/2 therefrom. The previous burglary occurred on Tuesday night, when the house of Dr. H. Hunlvr was entered. On that occasion the cash drawer of a writing desk was opened, the burglar boring out the lock of the drawer. However, the drawer did not contain any cash. Nothing was missed from the other drawers of the desk.