A CLEVER THEFT

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1928, Page 7

A CLEVER THEFT

DUNEDIN. MERCHANT'S LOSS. Duneding, Oct. 3. That there must be some wonderfully efficient pirating depots on the Continent of Europe a Dunedin firm has learned to its cost. Thia firm imported a case of Swiss watches, the case being railed from Geneva to Havre, whence it was shipped to New Zealand. The wooden case was of oblong shape, about three feet long, two feet deep, and one foot across the top. When it arrived in Dunedin it looked in sound order, securely nailed and wired with wires carrying seals. It was so strongly nailed together, indeed, that it required more than ordinary strength and labour to open it.

On being opened, however, It was discovered that the tin lining at one end had been neatly cut round and that about 14 dozen of the watches had been stolen of the thirty dozen in the box. Why any were left is a matter of conjecture. There is no suggestion that the theft took place on the boat, as It would have been practically impossible to carry it out on shipboard in the clever manner in which it was executed. It may be added that the seals were quite intact when the case was parried into the merchant's store.