COOL BURGLARS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21816, 20 November 1940, Page 9

COOL BURGLARS

STORE LOOTED LEISURELY AT WEEK-END Burglars who apparently had planned every move carefully, worked unhurriedly over a recent week-end to loot the New York shop and workrooms of Emma A. Maloof, of rare linens and expensive lingerie. Although the police said the value of the stolen merchandise was 5000 dollars, Miss Maloof said it was nearer 15,000 dollars. The loss was not covered by insurance. The theft was discovered early on the Monday when the shop opened and an employee found the racks and showcases stripped of thenstock and a gaping hole about 12in. ny 18in. in the side wall of the balcony adjoining the store of the Palette Art Company. That the thieves had operated at leisure was indicated by a half-con-sumed sandwich, empty beverage containers and innumerable cigarette butts left on the balcony steps. The burglars also discarded the jemmy, crowbars, and chisels they had used to break through the 6in. terracotta wall that separates the stores. The size of the opening hinted that one of the burglars was a small, thin man who passed the loot to his confederates. That was about all the police had to go on. They said they found no fingerprints. The balcony is not visible from the street. Entry to the art store was gained by a pass key or by springing a lock,. After pocketing the few dollars in the petty cash box there the men set to work breaking through the wall. As further evidence that the burglary had been planned meticulously the police pointed out that the doors of the lingerie shop are secured by an electric protective system, while the art shop has no such safeguard.