THIEVES STEAL A SAFE FROM AUCKLAND FIRM; ABOUT £900 IN IT

Wanganui Chronicle, 1 February 1950, Page 6

THIEVES STEAL A SAFE FROM AUCKLAND FIRM; ABOUT £900 IN IT

AUCKLAND, Yesterday (P.A.)— Thieves during the night stole a safe containing about £9OO, mostly cash, from the offices of Shorters Rental Cars Limited, Shortland Street. The safe, weighing four hundredweight, has not been recovered. Mr. Jack Shorter discovered the robbery this morning. There was nothing to indicate that, the premises had been forcibly entered. It is believed that a strip of celluloid was used to spring one of the front door locks. The safe was under the counter in the main office. The thieves placed the safe on a large lamb's wool rug, taker, from Eert Shorter's office, and slid it down two steps to the garage, and then a distance of 65’ yards to the back door leading to Chancery Lane. There they evidently lifted it into a truck or other conveyance. Several motor-cars had been moved in the garage to clear a passage for the safe. The burglars took with them a large padlock and key, leaving the back door open. “The thieves evidently calculated that we would not be able to bank large sums received over the holiday period,” said Mr. Bert Shorter. “Besides cash in the safe, there were coupons for 9000 gallons of petrol and many personal documents, like insurance policies, titles to bowsers, deeds and agreements.”

Mr. Shorter added that about three years ago thieves forced the front door, dynamited the safe, and stole about £5O. Again, almost a year ago, burglars entered- and tried to smash open still another safe. “Now they have taken our new safe.”