SYDENHAM PETROL STATION BURGLED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19240, 29 November 1930, Page 9

SYDENHAM PETROL STATION BURGLED

MONEY STOLEN FROM OFFICE AND BEDROOM. Thieves who broke into the petrol station of Eder and Wright, Colombo Street, Sydenham, last evening, evidently knew the run of the place, for in addition to robbing the cash drawer they opened a little whare at the back and took some money from a suit of clothes left there by Mr Wright. In all about £lO in money was taken. Detective Findlay, who investigated the case this morning, is stated to have questioned a man in connection with this and a previous theft from the place, though no arrest has yet been made. The station has an all-night service, and usually one or other of the partners sleeps on the premises. Since the road in front has been under construction this custom has been abandoned, however. The thieves gained entrance to the station through a side door, which is protected from the street by an angle of the wall. An attempt to jemmy open the door failing, a woodeh, post was used as a battering ram, the door being broken back from its hinges. An aperture was left through which a small man could climb. The office is in the front of the building and is protected by a glass-panelled door. The glass was broken and the lock opened. The cash drawer was then forced and a sum of over £5 taken. Nothing else on the station was disturbed. The thieves then went to a row of sheds at the back, one section of which is fitted up as a bedroom. Mr Wright had been wearing a good suit of clothes in the afternoon, but having some mechanical work to do, had changed. The good suit, which had money in the pockets, was left in the whare. He went home without again changing. When he arrived this morning he found that in addition to the office burglary the whare had been entered and all the money in his clothes stolen. The previous theft occurred several weeks ago, a parcel of clothing being taken from the station.