A CRIME WAVE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1436, 10 May 1912, Page 3

A CRIME WAVE.

UNABATED IN SYDNEY.

The following extracts from last Saturday's "Herald" toll their own tale:— ■V burglar visited the residence of Mr. Walter Wilkinson, Alpha, Balfour Road, Kensington, at an early hour yesterday morning, but did not succeed in gaining an entry. Ho was shot at by Mr. A\ ukinson, and then made his escape. Mr. Wilkinson and his wife, wuo occupy the front room of the house, were awakened at about i o'clock by the sound of somebody er,(leavouriug to force a door at the back of the house. Seizing a revolver which he had under his pillow, ami opening the window, Mr. Wilkinson saw a man crouching, half in the shadows cast bv the moon, against the end of the verandah. Ho called upon the man to "get out," and as he received no reply, fired the revolver. He aimed wide purposely, and the man was not injured. Tho strain, however,' was too much for Mr. Wilkinson, who was in indifferent health, and lie collapsed inside the bedroom. Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity- to escape, the man remained still as though paralysed with fear. Seeing the state of her husband, I"rs. Wilkinson then pointed her own revolver at the man, who cried out, "Give mo a chance. Let me get my hag." Ho re- j mained nt tho corner of the verandah, however, until ho saw Mr. Wilkinson reviving, when he jumped quickly over tho gate, and hurried away. When he was a few yards away from the house Mr. Wilkinson fired another shot after him, without effect. Tho polico were communicated with, and although a strict search of the vicinity was made, no trace could be found of the intruder. SAEEBREAKERS AT WORK. Safebreakers were busy in the city yesterday morning, but although they succeeded in entering two shops, they secured nothing sufficiently valuable to take awav. The premises visited were those of Mr. Geo. Lorking, tailor, and M. Goldstein, manufacturing jeweller, both at 271 Pitt Street. Tho former occupies the whole of the ground floor, and the latter part of tho first floor. -j It is supposed that the burglars secreted themselves in the rear of the premises before the hour of closing on Thursday night. When everything was clear they commenced operations. Thoy entered the back office of Mr. Lorking by means of a window which had been left unfastened, and forced the drawer. of a safe, tho door of which had been left unlocked. After ransacking the office, and finding nothing of value, the thieves went on to the next floor. Access was gained to tiie rooms of Mr. Goldstein by breaking tho lock of one door and unscrewing the holts of • another. Inside tho room are two safes, one on top of the other, and the safebreakers commenced work on the lower one. They bored five holes in the safe, and succeeded in cutting out a piece of the steel covering. Tho cement packing, with which the safe is lined, resisted all their efforts, however, and they were forced (n depart, without, having obtained anything for their labour. Tho smaller safe, which contained a quantity of valuable jewellery, was not touched, but a number of drawers were turned inside out, and their contents scattered on the floor. BURGLARY AT LEICHARDT. Tho house of Mr. George Meyers, in Cicely Street, Leichardt, was entered during the absence of the inmntcs, between 2.30 and H p.m. yesterday. Various articles of jewellery were taken, amounting in value to several pounds.