DARING BURGLARY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 231, 24 June 1920, Page 4

DARING BURGLARY

. * PREMISES IN CUBA STREET ROBBED £300 WORTH OF GOODS STOLEN MATERIAL FOR MAKING SUITS One of the most daring burglaries that have occurred in Wellington for some time took place in tho early hours of Saturday last, at the premises of Messrs. Charles M'Phee and Co., woollen merchants, 45-47 Cuba Street when a great quantity of material used in the manufacture of suits was stolen. Tho value of the stolen stuff represents a'sum of about 4300.

Messrs. M'Phee and Co. have their premises on tho top floor of Messrs. Lawrence and Hanson's building, which is of three stories. Their place was locked up about half-past 5 on Friday evening and the street door was secured some time later. About a. quarter 'past 2 on Saturday morning the, constable on the-beat discovered' that the main door of tho building was open, and on conducting an investigation of the promises he found that Messrs. M'Phee and Co.'s looms had been burgled. Entrance to tho rooms had been obtained by the removal of a panel in the wooden door, after which, the lock had been turned. How - the thieves managed to open the street door is a mystery, for the lock of this door was not damaged in any way. Apparently the burglars were in possession of duplicate keys. It is quite evident that the culprits were not "cracksmen" in any sense of the word, for the' wrofc of removing the door panel in Messrs. M'Pheo and Co.'s part of the establishment was performed in a very amateur fashion. The panel was very badly handled, 'and evidently the instrument used upon it was a chisel. The actual task of forcing the door must have taken some lime because Ijbe area is patrolled about once in every hour by the police, and on the previous visit of the constablo everything appeared to be in order. No time was lost by the thieves, however, in removing tho stolen goods, and it .is assumed that the material must have been taken away in a motor-car. In all, some 2G whole pieces of material were appropriated, • most of the rails being valued at from .£l2 to ,£2O each. ' Ono of the pieces had actually been sold for .£2O and was lying on the counter preparatory to being delivered. Tho stolen goods ""consisted of material used in lining vests and coats, besides a quantity of pocketing and new serge. From the nature of the burglary it is believed that it was perpetrated by men who have had actual experience of the tailoring trade, and who are accustomed to make and sell suits out of stolen cloth.

The daring of. the, burglars in committins the crime is proved by the foot that the vicinity of the building is well lighted, and the burglars must have made their plans carefully before actually attempting'the venture. Investigations are being conducted by the police.