ATTEMPTED BURGLARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12726, 22 August 1919, Page 5

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY.

A FENDALTON INCIDENT. i A clumsy but audacious attempt at burglary was made at t'endalum on Wednesday night, when a thier was discovered endeavouring to effect an entry into the residence of Mr L. 0. Gardiner, jun., Brandnor Road, Fendalton. At about eleven o’clock a curious noise attracted the attention of Mr Gardiner, -who was in bed, but not asleep. He listened intently, and after a little while another noise, which he knew to he caused by the latch of the front door being tampered with, was heard. The door was locked, however, and the would-be entrant foiled to open it. ® At this stage Mr Gardiner went downstairs and found bis unwelcome visitor trying to get in at a side door, leading into a sitting room. Apparently he was not so pre-occupied in his attempt as to fail to become aware of the presence of danger, for he dashed away as Mr Gardiner was about to go into action. By the time the lawful occupant of the house had reached his verandah the night-bird was in full flight out of the gate and heading quickly for seclusion- On account of the darkness and the fugitive’s extreme haste it was impossible for Mr Gardiner to get more than an indistinct glimpse of him, which disclosed that he was of medium height. On his approach the would-be intruder dashed off, and succeeded in making his escape in the jdarkness. It is assumed that the would-be burglar had been waiting about for some time, and had Acted Mr Gardiner’s retirement to bed, for Mrs Gardiner heard a noise, such as would be made by the opening of the front gate, about half an hour earlier, but thought that it might have been caused by the wind.