CAUGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 235, 4 October 1928, Page 10

CAUGHT.

A MAORI BURGLAR.

HIDING IN THE ROOF.

SAYS HIS PAJ. ESCAPED. AN ONEHUNGA SENSATIONThe enterprise and prompt action of a lady resident was responsible for- the capture of a burglar last night at Onehunga, and the prevention of the theft of goods from a grocer's shop belonging to Mr. C. A. Osborne, in Princes Street, Onehunga. Mrs. Portland is the lady to whom this credit must be given. She was returning home shortly after ten o'clock, and, as she passed Mr. Osborne's shop, she saw a light inside. She realised that Mr. Osborne was not in the shop because she had just left him and Mrs. Osborne only a minute before, having walked down Princes Street together. Her suspicions were therefore aroused, and 'she sent a companion to the rear of the 1 premises to watch while slie stood guard in front, after sending a messenger to inform Mr. Osborne, who lives in a private house in Hill Street. Another messenger was dispatched to the police station, and a constable with two friends of Mr. Osborne went down to investigate. There is a dwelling at the rear of the shop, and upon his arrival Mr. Osborne found that entrance to the shop had been effected through the kitchen. The tenant-in the dwelling was absent last night. Hiding in the Roof. The searchers fouud alongside the safe behind the counter a hammer which did not belong to Mr. Osborne. But where was the burglar? Mrs. Portland and all the watchers were confident that he had not passed out through either the front or back door. His presence was discovered by a man who happened to look up, and he called out: "There lie is, in the roof." When the man came down he proved to be a well-known Maori, who disclosed that he had not been in the shop, but had gone on to the roof at the bidding of 9 white man, whom he called^Les." "Him TOgflaU Feller." He did not know the mate's surname. Presaai farther for a description of "Les.," the Maori said he had seen him 9nly three times, and had met hub that

night at a street corner. He asserted that they went to the shop together, and he (the Maori) went on to the roof. , "What about 'Lea.,' where did he go?" "Me don't know where 'Les.' went," was the reply. Asked to describe his mate, the Maori replied: 'Him thin feller and tall." The Maori stoutly denied having been in the shop, but when he was searched there was found in his pocket a fountain pen belonging to .an employee of Mr. 03borne. . " • The prompt action of Mrs. Portland in setting a guard to watch the premises was highly commended by Mr. Osborne, whose loss was thereby reduced to a minimum. The other burglar was evidently dis-turbed,-and made off. The Third Burglary. 1 This is the third burglary that has been committed at Mr. Osborne's shop in the last few months. About a month ago a large sum of money was stolen, and before that a quantity of groceries was taken.