MOTOR BOATS PLUNDERED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17346, 10 May 1924, Page 5

MOTOR BOATS PLUNDERED.

WHOLESALE THEFTS AT DUNEDIN P*Jt P»M* AMOCXiTWJf. DUNEDIN. May 9. Petty thieving from boat* has in t-JlO past been confined to one or two cases, out the latest act of wanton mischief, in which seventeen motor boats have been broken into and damaged, has been revealed. The boat harbour, in the vicinity of the cement works, has been the scene of activity on the part of some person or persons, who hare carried out a wholesale expedition of plundering and theft, which has never been equalled in the history of boating in Otago. The work of destruction has evidently been carried out between Tuesday last and to-day. The same method of gaining entry has been used in each boat. If the door could not he forced, the skylight was smashed. Search of. the boats was made bv Detective Farquliarson and Mr C. "\V Sun strum this evening, but little could be reported owing to the darkness, and the fact-that the owners of the Imats were not present to ascertain rheir losses. It is reported, however, that none of the engines of the boats have the appearance of having been interfered with. The marauders did not confine their work ’of destruction to the boats, as five or six of the 14-footer boat sheds wore broken into. In one case a great deal of material—sails, oars, fittings. and rowlocks—were taken. A dinghy was found adrift, and is thought to have been used to convey the marauders to the various boats. One boat-owner stated that there was about £IO,OOO worth of property in the boat harbour.