PUZZLING ROBBERY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 425, 17 November 1930, Page 8

PUZZLING ROBBERY

THE PAHIATUA CASE

PALMERSTON N., Nov. 15.

Further details of the burglary of the W.F.C.A.’s big store at Pahiatua on Thursday night reveal a carefully-pre-pared crime. Hundreds of pounds’ worth of stock was removed, the firm’s lorry being commandeered for the purpose. No door or window was forced. An exit was made from the back door, the Bolts of which were drawn from the inside. It appears as if one of the gang —apparently a young woman was hidden in the store during the day, and at a pre-arranged time simply slipped the bolts of the back door to lot the others in.

When a member of the staff (Mr O. Coinford) opened the front door as usual yesterday morning he was startled to find the back door wide open. In the main office the empty till was lying on the floor, and he found that every department in the shop had been systematically searched. The goods were loaded on to the firm’s runabout truck, which was housed in a shed at the bottom of the yard. This vehicle was found abandoned in a side road, and on the wet ground the traces showed where two cars had pulled up by it. one large ami one small car. Burglary Before Fire. It also seems certain now that the lire which gutted Mr A. Pringle’s draperv establishment early on Monday morning was the aftermath of a bur"•larv. It has been discovered that a large quantity of the best hosiery and several leather suitcases had been removed. Goods had been disarranged, nnd some belonging to one department were found in another. The back door of the premises, which is always barred, readily opened when the hose was played upon it. The circumstances point to the burglars having set fire to the building.