A TROUBLESOME THIEF.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14830, 22 November 1913, Page 4

A TROUBLESOME THIEF.

GISBORNE SETTLERS ANNOYED. (KPECIAL TO "THB rBES3.") GISBORNE, November 21. Settlers in "Wharekopae district hav<i been much exercised over the escapades of a thief who has been mysteriously visiting properties in that district. His first raid was made ten days ago, and ho has been making clandestine visits since. Until yesterday all efforts to" loeato him have failed, although traces have been found of his camping places, and somo of. tho • stolen property has been recovered. It was thought that tho mysterious visitant had disappeared from tho neighborhood, and yesterday a call was made at Tahunga in the supposition that he might have gone in that direction. Tho opportunity, however, was seized by the thief to make a "further raid at Mr Rennet's place. The settlers have been staying tip night and day to try to catch tho intruder, but without success, and although field-glasses have been used with frequency, and thn country has" been scoured in the ■vicinity, only one person has yet caught a guxnpso of the man. The searchers have found several plants made by him -beneath some logs, and have eeon whoxo he has been consuming potatoes and milk-thistles. A quantity of gelignite, detonators, blasting powder and fuse, stolen from Mr Renner's place, has been discovered, also a bottle of poison that the man had stolen. The belief is that the man's mental capacity is affected in somo wav, hut hi> raids show-a remarkable cunning. To-day the settlers were closing in in a wide circle in the hope of hemming in the fugitive.