QUICK WORK BY POLICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 143, 20 June 1939, Page 5

QUICK WORK BY POLICE

MAN SURPRISED ON PREMISES GARAGE BROKEN INTO MISSING CAR RECOGNISED ( Per Press Association.) HASTINGS, June 18. Smart work by the police on Saturday night was responsible for the arrest, red-handed, of a young man aged 23, who a short time previously had taken a motor-car from Napier and who subsequently broke into a Hastings garage. Notification that the car had been removed was received by the Hastings police at. 8.30 p.m. A constable, who went off duty at 9 p.m., while cycling home a few minutes later saw a motor-car parked on the roadside which tallied with the description of the vehicle taken from Napier. Finding the registration number of the car, which contained no occupants, to be that, of the missing vehicle, the constable made a brief survey of the locality.- A light in the office premises of a garage near where the car was parked drew his attention. Bearing sounds from within, and finding the front entrances of the garage locked the constable satisfied himself that intruders were in the premises. From a nearby telephone he summoned assistance from the police station. The smashing of glass greeted the assisting constable as he crossed the yard. Similtaneously a man’s leg appeared through a window at. the back of the building. On seeing the constable, the intruder prepared to bid a hasty retreat and as he did so the constable called: “.Just a minute, we’ll open I.Le door for you.” Disregarding the constable's invitation, the man ran through the building to the front door, which he opened. Not recognising the constable standing on the pavement he

«=r.. :■ - IS na ßg -._- 3 —-- began to run away but was quickly arrested. When the garage was I searched it was found that money. 1 comprising loose change, had been ' taken from lhe till and unavailing ■ efforts been made Io open the safe | with a large spanner. The man had gained entry by removing panes) from a small window overlooking the alleyway'- at the side.