CAT BURGLAR

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 48, 27 February 1936, Page 3

CAT BURGLAR

CHASED BY COUNTESS ESCAPES WITH JEWELS The Countess of Portarlington, awakened at four o’clock in the morning by a cat-burglar flashing an electric torch in her bedroom at her home in Chesham Place, London, leapt out of bed and chased him. He escaped, however, with £2,500 worth of her jewellery, and so far has not been captured. At the house, the “News Chronicle” was informed: “When Lord and Lady Portarlington returned home in the evening, the Countess placed some, jewels on her dressing table. Terriers Not Disturbed “When she was awakened —to see the man flashing an electric torch about the room —she called out. The man ran from the room, and, jumping out of bed, the Countess chased him, but he disappeared —without disturbing four Cairn terriers in the house. “No one else had heard a sound until Lady Portarlington gave the alarm. “A telephone call was sent to the police, and, picking up a message relayed by wireless, a number of Flying Squad cars began a hunt. “The Countess, however, was able to give the police a description of the burglar.”

! The police found that a window in the; basement had been forced, and it is assumed that the burglar climbed a stack-pipe in Lyall Mews to the roof of the garages there, crawled | to a flat room which runs to the back I wall of Lord Portarlington’s house, went down steps leading from it to the basement window, and then walked through the house to the bedroom, which was on the second floor. On his way in the thief cut what ihe apparently believed were the 1 main telephone wires, but they merely linked up parts of the household. i George IV Ring I The stolen jewellery includes a diamond ring which belonged to King George IV., two other diamond < rings, two pearl necklaces, bracelets set with pearls, and a silvergilt box. j Fbur years ago thieves stole from i the same house miniatures, antiques, cameos, rings and other articles worth £2,300. 1 Lady Portarlington. who was formerly Miss Minnifreffa Yuill, married the Earl in 1907. The family seat is at Emo Park. Portarlington, Ireland.