HOUSE WRECKERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13278, 6 May 1907, Page 6

HOUSE WRECKERS.

The high prices of metals 'have been a source of profit to an organised gang of house-wreckers in Melbourne, who have caused much trouble to the police. Empty houscs and houses going up have in many instances been stripped 'or everything in the shape of metal, chandeliers, new door knobs, locks, gas fittings, lead pipe, copper v.'ii's, etc., have been taken out of the houses at nigh:, and so numerous have these robberies become and so valuable the articles stolen that many contractors have gone to the eicpensa of keeping fatchman all night at buildings being erecte d by them. In some i instances- the •thieves, watching their- opportunity when newly-erected houses are just, about completed, have gone to work at night and left the place perfect wrecks by tearing out and down the interior fittings and stripping lead from the roofs. Several cases'* of mo?.t unparallel impudence have recen.ly bem reported, particularly _in North Carlton, where houses in occupation have been visited by men who state that th&y "\ver3 plxiniber.s sent to overhaul roofs, spouts and piping. They always chose rented houses, and having, by their, amazing effrontery,' lulled the suspicions of the* occupants have coolly gone to; work and stripped the roof, gutters and kad, removed the pipes and, any other metal considered by them to be °f all y value. In one or two instances they have partially unroofed houses over the liaaos of the inmates to-get the metal they wanted, and strange to say, . they have nowhere been suspected as frauds at the time of their visit, so boldly have they accomplished their nefarious tasks. Detectives have recognised; that there must be some big central " fencing" establishxnent into which these large consignments of metal find their way. On the 11th inst. two of the gang were arrested carrying heavy which proved to contain a quqantity of C tlie plunder. Another arrest- was made subsequently, and stolen property traced to certain smelling works. It is believed that the gang has been broken up.