BURGLAR DISTURBED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 89, 16 April 1938, Page 10

BURGLAR DISTURBED

DRINKING BEER AT BOSS’ DESK

ESCAPE FROM CONSTABLE [ Per Pre»B Association. ] I WELLINGTON, April 15. Escaping through a narrow window at the back of the Globe Printing Co.’s premises in Tory Street after ransacking their office and stealing a gold watch and about £6 in cash from the office of the Federal Egineering Co., Holland Street, at about 2 o’clock on Thursday, an unidentified man just managed to evade a police constable, who gave chase. “Though he ransacked the office pretty thoroughly a bottle of beer was apparently the only thing of value that the thief found,” said L. Jacobs, factory hand, employed by the* Globe Printing Co. It was while h« was seated at the boss’ desk drinking the beer that the police constable, finding the door open, walked in. "Hullo. You’re working rather late, aren’t you?” said the constable. The man said, “Yes,” got up and walked to the door. Then he bolted, just managing to smash a window in the back of the building and climb .through before the constable could catch him. He mJ t have been very quick as the window, which overlooks the Jane leading into Tory Street is about eight feet above the level of the floor and measures only 14i inches by 20.

An unusual feature of the crime was that a fanlight above the Globe Printing Co.’s door was broken, evidently from the outside. From where the glass lay on the floor there was a trail of blood leading into the printing office, where the contents of a first-aid outfit kept in case of emergency, had been rifled. Also unexplained is the reason why the Globe Printing Co.’s door should have been found open.