BURGLARIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5566, 15 May 1896, Page 2

BURGLARIES.

AT LYTTELTON.

Two burglaries were , committed at Lyttelton during last night,' and were evidently the work of the same personß. Messrs Rhind and Wagstaff's corn store in Norwich Quay was broken open, entrance being effected by pushing back the window catch with a knife. A file had been ÜBed in pushing up the window, and had been broken, the pieces being left behind. The thief or thieves robbed a till in the office of about 11s, but the safe in the same room did not appear to have been touched. The other place entered was J. M. Smith and Co.'s drapery establishment in London Street. Here, an entrance waa effected through the work-room at the rear of the shop, again by pushing back the window-catch with a knife. A flight of stairs leads from the work-room' into the shop, and the door at the top of the stairs was locked when the place wa3 ' left on Thursday afternoon. This x door had been opened by cutting pieces out of a panel with a knife and then turning the key from the inside. About 2s Gd in copper and some 3s 8d in stamps was taken from the till, while an overcoat, a macintosh and a box of ties are the only articles missed so far. The floor was strewed with matches, which had been lighted by the thieves, who left behind them a screw-wrench and a broken file, which corresponded- with the pieces found at Rhind and Wagstaff's.' • Both file and wrench have been identified, and were taken from a coal-yard at the rear of Rhind and Wagstaff's produce store.