FOUR BURGLARIES

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1927, Page 7

FOUR BURGLARIES

00U1CIN COUNTRY TOWN. £25 TAKEN FROM OPEN SAFE. Auckland, Juna 18. Quite a big raid was made by burglars on a number of shops in Spring Street and Bowen Street, Waiuku, last night. Four shops in Spring Street, those of Mrs. Brinton (restaurant keeper), Mr. Naismith (fruiterer), Mr. R. C. Wright (tobacconist and hairdresser) and Mr. Plimmer (butcher), were broken into. In each case the back doors were forced open with a large jemmy. Mr Naismith was the heaviest loser. Unfortunately for him he forgot to lock his safe, which contained £25 in cash. Every penny of it was stolen. About £2 in money was taken from Mrs. Brinton’s shop, while a large quantity of tobacco and cigarettes were stolen from Mr. Wright’s premises. He was fortunate, for the thieves overlooked over £l5 in silver, which he left overnight. Attempts were made to break into Mr. Ballance’s butchery in Bowen Street and also Wright and Bonner’s grocery in the same street, but the doors could not be forced. In every case the shops broken into were of the “lock up” variety. SUSPICION WELL FOUNDED. GELIGNITE DISCOVERED ON MAN. Auckland, June IS. A smart arrest was effected early last nigh tby acting detectives McWhirter and Packman in Customs Street. About 7.15 p.m. they observed a man acting suspiciously and kept their eyes upon him for some time. Then they decided that they would search him. They had very good reason for doing so, for in one of his pockets was discovered a plug of gelignite and some detonators. Thomas Rogers (aged 42) was the man and he pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court this morning to a charge of being found in possession of explosives, without lawful, sufficient and proper purpose. Chief detective Cummings described Rogers as an old criminal and detailed his numerous previous convictions. “A man like Rogers going round with explosives in his possession is a menace to the public,” said Mr. Cummings.. “No doubt he was going out to commit some crime when lie was arrested—probably going to-blow a safe.” “How do these men get gelignite’” asked the Magistrate of the Chief Detective. “Usually from quarries, sir. Several sheds at quarries where explosives are stored have been broken into recently,” replied the Chief Detective. Rogers got the maximum sentence — three months’ imprisonment. He had nothing to say at all.