’WARE THIEVES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17012, 10 April 1923, Page 8

’WARE THIEVES.

TWO CHURCHES ENTERED HOMES AND OFFICES UPSET. Thieves have been operating in several business premises and private residences in Christchurch during tiie past week or so. \\ hether the burglars have come to Christchurch with the big influx of visitors to the Eastei racing carnival it is difficult to say, but tne fact remains that the absence of persons from offices and homes ovei the holiday season has given an opportunity to the thieves to carry out their ransacking campaign and make off in a number of cases with money and valuables It is not known whether these depredations are the work of one or more men in a gang or several different gangs. There is a good chance that some of the misdemeanours will bo sheeted home before long. Apparently most of the burglarious entrances and thefts have been the work of amateurs. In one case that came under notice a business office iu a block north of the city had been ransacked, probably with the idea of finning keys. One "of the thieves had cut his hand and blood was found on several articles. The safe had beaten the intruders and they had left without having their intentions satisfied.

This northern city business block seems to have been given a lair amount of attention, as another office was at tempted from a backyard, but after turning over desks and drawers and finding nothing more substantial than documents the visitors left. »

In one place in Elgin Street. Sydenham, the inhabitants left home early in the evening. At nightfall the neighbours noticed three electric lights going and later found from the occupiers of the building that they must have been turned on to assist- the burglars in their search. Cupboards, boxes and drawers had been upset and the contents scattered around the rooms. Every little packet, had beeu opened, and the lady of the house lost two half-sovereigns—the relics of brighter days. A gold chain and some jewellery in full view of the thieves had been left alone. What troubled the lady of the house most was that the thieves had taken every key they found.

Some time last week Knox Church, in Bealey Avenue, was broken into. An entrance was forced by smashing a window, and the burglar, or burglars, got into the attached buildings. Cupboards were smashed open. An entrance was then obtained into the main building. Here were various containing casual contributions to charitable, and general church funds. These were smashed open and the contents abstracted. It is not know’n exactly what amount was taken, but it is thought to be in the region of 2os to 30s. The actual damage to the church building and property was slight. During a recent Sunday morning service at St Andrew’s Church two boys were seen entering the vestry. Later they were seen mounting bicycles and decamping hurriedly, and afterwards it was found that they had stolen a bottle of Communion wine. Cupboards had lieen ransacked. Tlie boys were quite identifiable, but at the time it was not thought that they had any thieving intent-. Of a different character was a theft last Thursday. A motor-car was stolen from Hereford Street by a tall thin man wearing a darkish suit. He had no hat. He ran the car to Taylor’s Mistake ;,ml probably in trying to turn pn the roadway had trouble. The car left the road and went over the cliff, landing near a hut in Taylor’s Mistake. The thief cut himself somehow', as there were blood marks on the car. He -an up the hillside and disappeared.