BURGLARS IN WELLINGTON.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11480, 13 January 1903, Page 6

BURGLARS IN WELLINGTON.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PBESS.") WELLINGTON, January 12. The successful burglaries in the South have apparently stimulated some of the genus in this locality to action, though their operations have not t«dded very much to their material .-wealth. Indeed, it would appear as if the operations are rather the work of some hair-brained fellow, inexperienced in the "profession." No money nor .property seems to have been taken, and in one place, -where an effort-to open the cafe did not succeed, the operatives left a note upon which was written: "The compliments of Bill Sykes," and in a more vicious spirit of mischief lie turned on the water tap, and a miniature flood "*waa the result. This morning the "Post" states that the principal scene of the burglars' operations was in the new building occupied by Messrs Skerrebt, Wylie, and Weaton, Mr James Speed, and Mr James Godber. An entrance was apparently first made into the back portion of Mr Speed's premises, the steel shutter covering a small window having been raised, but the lock of the <loor giving entrance to Mr Speed's workroom- resisted lock-picking efforts, so the burglar tried eomething easier. He obtained entrance to Mr Godber's kitchen, thenoe into the dining-room, aad destroyed the patent cash register, the compartment of TVihich had been emptied on Saturday night. The burglar was not hurried in his operations apparently. There were small pieces of meat cut up and placed upon a plate for the benefit of the cats. From the dining-room he made his way upstairs to the offices of Messrs Skerrett, Wylie and Weston, picking the locks which blocked the way. The safe was got at, but nothing is missing, though the office was littered with papers, which the enterprising one threw out of the way during bis search for more substantial loot. Mr Speed has only just congratulated himself upon a lucky escape from the operations of the burglar when he found that a daylight robber of another kind had operated to some purpose. The bicycl« which Mr had just had an hour previously ridden upon to business was stolen from the passage in which the machine is usually kt-pt.