BURGLARS OPERATE DURING HOLIDAYS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19269, 5 January 1931, Page 7

BURGLARS OPERATE DURING HOLIDAYS.

PAY VISIT TO HOUSE OF RAILWAYS MANAGER. (Special to the “Star,”) WELLINGTON, January 5. While Mr Sterling, General Manager of Railways, was absent in the South Island on holiday with his family over Christmas and New Year, his home in Burnell Avenue was ransacked. The crime was discovered when Mr Sterling returned yesterday, and although there was no time last evening to survey the contents of the house, not a great deal seemed to have been taken. Some things, however, were obviously missing. Mr Sterling left a fortnight ago, and with no one living in the house over the holidays a leisurely job was possible. The thieves gained entrance through the back door It was necessary first to force open a grille gate opening into the back porch. This was done apparently with a crowbar, and attention was turned then to the back door itself. After an unsuccessful attempt to force open the door near the handle and lock, they tried to prise it open at the hinged side. Tt was opened finally with a jemmy near the lock. The wood of the door and frame was badly splintered. Once inside the house the thieves ransacked the rooms systematically and created a certain amount of disorder.

It is not known when the crime was committed, but it is considered unlikely that it took place on Saturday night as has been suggested. Mr Sterling was interested last evening in what he thought might have been a bogus tele phone call on the day he left. He was telephoned by someone who said he was a newspaper reporter. The speaker wished to know Mr Sterling’s movements for the purpose of inserting a paragraph. This was most unusual, said Mr Sterling, for the information was obtained generally by different means.