DANGEROUS GANG OPERATING IN CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17756, 28 January 1926, Page 1

DANGEROUS GANG OPERATING IN CITY.

FIVE HOMES ENTERED BY ~ BURGLARS; TWO SET ALIGHT.

DETECTIVES HAVE BUSY NIGHT HUNTING FIRE-FIEND THIEVES.

Christchurch is in the grip of a dangerous gang of fire-fiends and burglars who. having secured their loot, cover up their tracks by setting fire to the premises they visit. Detectives received the first intimation that the gang were operating on Saturday night last when four city business premises were entered by the time-honoured process of using a jemmy on the windows. Last night the gang were again at work, when they visited five dwelling houses, two of which they set afire before they left.

Detectives report that the premises of the following people have been entered by unauthorised persons during the two nights that the gang have been out:— SATURDAY NIGHT. G. H. Madden, second-hand dealer, Manchester Street. E. Baker, second-hand dealer, Manchester Street. Dainties,. Ltd., biscuit manufacturers, Dundas Street. The Hunter Sign Company, Colombo Street. WEDNESDAY NIGHT. A. L. Tucker, 180, Salisbury Street. Mrs Allen, 180, Kilmore Street. J._ T. C. Scott, 271, Cambridge Terrace. Mrs M. Pvne, 396, Durham Street. Mrs E. Jackson, 410, Durham Street. MORE LIKE MANIACS. Working at night with a recklessness whicn stamps them as maniacs, the marauders pursue a deliberate policy of . destruction. In fact, their actions seem rather those of small boys than matured men. Chief-Detective Gibson, however, stated this morning that he had no doubt that they were not boys. It is tha practice - of the gang to visit premises while they are tern-’ porarily unoccupied. There is little doubt that they keep the premises on which-they have designs under* observation for some time before they, determine to make the break, and then, hav-

ing assured themselves that the occupants are out. walk round to the back, where they have no difficulty in effecting an entrance without detection. ARE THEY FROM AUCKLAND? Two of the premises visited by the gang last night, those of Mr A. L. Tucker and Mr J. T. C. Scott, were set afire by the intruders and both were badly damaged. Some weeks ago Auckland suffered a similar epidemic of burglaries and incendiarism, and it is suspected that there is some connection between the present outbreak and that experienced in the northern city. Residents and proprietors of business premises are advised b\' - the police to keep all their windows and doors securely locked when they have occasion to be away. THEY WORK FAST. Fast workers, the members of the gang appear to concentrate their attentions on certain blocks, as is indicated by ■ the proximity of the premises entered. Last night detectives were investigating the outbreak of fire in Mr Tucker’s residence when they were advised that burglars had ransacked the premises of Mrs Allen just a block away. The detectives were making inquiries in connection with this case when one of the party, Acting-Detective Kearns, noticed smoke coming from the roof of the house immediately in the rear. While the. officers were on the they were informed that still another dwelling a few doors away had been entered by burglars.