ATTEMPTED THEFT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20107, 14 May 1935, Page 14

ATTEMPTED THEFT

LEGAL OFFICES BROKEN INTO By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, May 13. Mysteriously entering a fivestoreyed building in the legal area of tha city during the week-end and just as mysteriously gaining entrance to a suite of offices occupied by a firm of barristers and solicitors without leaving any traces showing how entrance was effected, burglars were unsuccessful in blowing open the safe with gelignite. Everything in the building appeared to be in order this morning when the clerks arrived. The front door of the building was not damaged, while the solicitors main office door on the first floor was securely locked. The only thing to arouse the suspicion of a junior clerk was that the padlock was not in its usual position on the strongroom door. This was found lying on the floor. It had been broken off. Opening the strongroom door, which the intruders had left closed, he discovered that the safe was lying on its side, the door being considerably damaged as a result of a charge of gelignite which had been exploded in the keyhole. The explosion shattered the door, which failed to open and the services of a locksmith had to be obtained to remove it. The safe contain numerous documents including debentures worth several thousands of pounds, but no cash.