THIEVES, DISTURBED, ARE CHASED THROUGH STREETS BY TAXI

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 January 1950, Page 5

THIEVES, DISTURBED, ARE CHASED THROUGH STREETS BY TAXI

NELSON, Last Night (PA).—Stolen motor-cars, a ransacked house, and a 60 miles-an-hour chase through the streets of Motueka were features of an exciting episode reported from Motueka.

Two men, who were disturbed in a house which they had thoroughly searched, were chased by e taxi owner but they evaded capture. Later the car was found abandoned and a second car was reported to have been stolen. This had not been found up till this afternoon.

As Mr. F. A. Gillespie, a partner in the firm of Motueka Taxis, was driving from Riwaka to Motueka about 10.30 o’clock last night, he noticed a car parked in front of the home of his partner, Mr. Gray Harford. Mr. Harford was on duty with his taxi, and Mr. Gillespie decided to investiatge and, leaving his passenger in the taxi, went to the back of the house. As he entered the back door, two men ran out the front door and. made for the taxi on the side of the road. When they saw the passenger in that vehicle, they changed direction and ran to the car which had been parked in front of the house. Into this they sprang and made off at high speed. Seeing at a glance that the house had been ransacked, Mr. Gillespie set off in pursuit of the intruders, but as his engine had a governor which prevented his car travelling more than 60 miles an hour, he was not able to overtake the fugitives. Mr. Gillespie then notified the police. The missing car found abandoned near Motueka Beach vas identified by the police as one stolen from Christchurch about 8 o'clock this morning. Mr. Norman Hurrell, of Lower Moutere, reported to the Motueka police that his coupe car was missing from his garage.

Mr. Harford’s house had been thoroughly turned out by the burglars. A new suit and sports clothes ' ere among the missing articles.