A BURGLAR CHASE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1523, 20 August 1912, Page 7

A BURGLAR CHASE.

IN A BOARDINGHOUSE. GETS AWAY BY 'HIE FIKE-ESCIPE. (Br Telecranb.— SDeclal Oorrcsnondcnt.) Auckland, August 19. Cumarvo, a Symonds Street boardinghouse, was raided early yesterday morning by a burglar, who, though fairly successful in his depredations, was fortunately surprised by one of the boarders, and chased out of the establishment. The boarder in question, when returning from tho bathroom, saw a dark figure skulking at the other end of tlio passage, then jumping into tho shade ot a largo cupuoard. Lighting a cumllt, the young man went forward, saying "Is that you, Air. K——," mentioning tlie name of'ono of the other boarders. "Yes, lam just going to my room," he replied, dashing down tho stairs at a furious rate. This confirmed the suspicions Hint he was a burglar, and lie was pursued. Dwelling' tho buttoni landing, he turned to his right, running ulong to tho lower verandah door, which ho slammed with zu Indignant bang. Imagining that ho had sought refuge in tho bathroom, his pursuer woke up another gentleman boarder, asking him to follow out if ho heard a, scuffle, but. on going to sccuro his man, great was tho hunter's wrath to find that, tho burglar had disappeared ilown tlio lire-escape, which is attached to the,verandah. A rustling of the leaves and Breaking of branches below told of the thief's (light into the- gully which lies at tho back of Symonds Sheet. As it was useless to pursue through tho darkness in. tho niazo of bushes and backyards, tho awakened boarders returned to count tho losses of the night. Evidently tho burglar had entered two bedrooms on the landing which is level with tho sheet. One gentleman had 7s. Gd. taken out of ono poo. kor, but strange to ray tho thief did not touch the other pocket, in which there wa3 about JI3 iu money. In another room tho thief extracted 14.3. from a young man's pocket, as well ns tho top of a cheap stud, a strange thing to covet. Re also lifted a silver watch and card-case, but his cunning caused him to leave these behind on tlio table, of the hall, probably because of after-idoiitification. In tho course of his perambulations lie must havo knocked against the dinnergong. This was found on the floor below the nail on which it is usually suspended. His heel marks were clearly impressed on tho verandah. These indicated that they were of rubber, while tho peratched soil on the section adjoining indicated that he had slipped when jumping off the firo-escape. This burglary is not nn isolated caso in Symonds Street. A fortnight ago another SymoriUs Stroot boardinghouse was broken into, and many of the bedrooms ransacked. Pockets rn this caso were also the burglar's objective. . • ■ .