FIRE-BUGS AGAIN.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1931, Page 6

FIRE-BUGS AGAIN.

Building Burgled and Set Alight. A SECOND ATTEMPT. ’ For the second time in two Weeks the premises of Guthrie, Bowron and Co., 143, Worcester Street, City, %ere burgled and set on fire. Over £IOO worth of goods was stolen last night, making the firm’s total loss by burglary in the two cases nearly £2OO. A passer-by noticed the flames, and prompt action by two policemen prevented the fire from spreading and doing much damage.

The premises of the firm, which deals in oils, paints, varnishes and other highly inflammable materials, were securely locked at 5.15 p.m. yesterday when the staff went away, and they still seemed secure shortly before two o’clock, when some men who had been in adjoining premises passed. Shortly before three o’clock, a newspaper employee c?n his way home, noticed the door open and the glare of a fire' inside. He quickly called a policeman and the sergeant who were near at hand, and the three of them tackled the fire. The warehouse had been set alight m two places, btrt the fire had not had time to spread, and the men were able to beat it piit without calling the fire brigade. A Daring Attempt.

The full extent of the crime was realised when the manager of the place was called from his. home a little later. The front doqr had been jemmied open, and the thieves had then made a rapid raid of the Stocks. When they had finished, they broke open several tins of “Duco,” a highly inflammable varnish for metalwork, and spilled it over and alongside a stack of cases of the varnish, containing nearly two hundred gallons of the compound. Some more they carried to a place near the door, and poured it over the floor and over a partition. They then set fire to. the varnish and made their escape. The goods taken included eleven Duco spraying outfits, four sample leather overcoats, brushes and other goods to a total value of over £IOO. The total amount of goods taken has not been tallied up as yet. Previous Attempt.

The previous attempt was made on August 5, when after well over £SO worth of goods had been stolen the thieves set fire to the back of the premises. They did not on that occasion make use of any of the chemical that was in the place. On that occasion the fire was noticed b) r people upstairs and the Fire Brigade made a good save. No reason apart from a desire to cover the burglars’ tracks can be given to account for the tw*o fires. The building was owned by Mr IL P. Bridge and was insured in Lloyd s.