EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF WATCHES AT SHORTLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 193, 22 August 1870, Page 2

EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF WATCHES AT SHORTLAND.

[From this day's Advertiser.'] On Saturday evening a robbery took place at the shop of Mr. Blundell, watchmaker, Shortland, by which he becomes the loser of some 40 watches of various descriptions, some of which were very valuable. It appears that previous to closing the premises on Saturday night, about eight o'clock, Mr. Blundell had removed all the watches from the window, and the cases in which they were exposed during the day, and had deposited them in a box for safe keeping. It had been customary to remove this box to the sleeping apartment occupied on the premises by Blundell. On this evening, previous to removing the box, Mr. Blundell locked the door, and had gone across the street to Air. Wayte's stationery shop, for a newspaper, and on returning in a few minutes he found that the door had been opened in his absence, and the box, with its valuable contents abstracted. The thief, for it would seem as if only one was concerned in the transaction, must have been on the watch for some time, and opened the door with a key as soon as Air. Blundell's back was turned (for there was no marks of force), and carefu'y locked the door after him on his departure. The police were at once communicated with, but up to the present no clue to the apprehension of the thief has been found.