BURGLARY AND FIRE.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18906, 22 January 1927, Page 15

BURGLARY AND FIRE.

A SENSATIONAL AFFAIR

YOUTH IN SPEED-BOAT.

fRtSS USCCUHOW rKLIGHAV.) AUCKLAND. January 01. A sensational incident occurred n; ranmiire on.Thursday evening, involving a" burglar* of a building followed by tho dost ruction ot" the premises by fire, and the apprehension ot" a youth in a speed boat on the' Tamaki river.

The loss by fire exceeds £IOOO and includes the loss of the whole building anil the contents of a plumber's shop, bootmaker's workshop, confectiouery business, and garage, which it comprised. The sequel to tho tire began at seven o'clock this morning, when'A. U. Wells. ;i resident of Panmure,. noticed his speed .boat was • missing from moorings on tho river. Boon afterward* he picked out.the missing boat about two. miles tho rivet. It was anchored. Wells went "in pursuit in a rowing boat and when within call of the speed boat ho ; '"noticed : a youth on {lib .> motor-boat, The lad took to tho dinghy on seeing Wells, but was captured. Ho; was a' resident of Panmure.

Under the scat of'thc speed boat wai a quantity of totmeco and. confectionery. Tho speed boa.t Was towed to Panmure ..nd later-.the' youth was arrested. The goods found in tho speed boat were identified as belonging to the confectioncryshop. ... . ; The vouth admitted breaking into the confectionery, shop. .■ Ho said ho 'luul n candle; hut saw ho.sign ; of firo when ]\o left. He took the speed boat, but the engine failing to-'go,'he dropped anchor, the boy will appear in tho Police Court tp-morrcVw.' ■ "' ' 1). .!. Young, owiicrof. tho. building and occupier of tlio two MiopV is a heavy loser. The premises wijro valued nfc £BSO and' were, only" insured tor £3OO. ' Over;£so worth of plumbing tools wcro burned: ••...'• ■*';

.Tho confectionery .'«hop : stock was insured .for .'menif'rya.lued at- was'..&Wrned and the. ijvyncV 'lost .tools £SO, which.'werc not insured. ! '