BURGLAR STEALS £l50

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 47, 19 November 1926, Page 10

BURGLAR STEALS £l50

FROM UNDER SLEEPING OWNER BOLD AND CLEVER CRIME Dominion Special. Christchurch, November 18. While the occupants of the room slept a burglar crept into a bedroom of a house in Selwyn Street, went through the pockets of a coat hanging on the door, then crept round the. bed and took from under it a handbag containing about £l5O. Quietlv be crept out again, unlocked the back door, and let himself out. The victim of the most daring burglarv carried out in Christchurch for a long time is Air. Reginald Stillwell. a well-known dance promoter, of 70 Selwyn Street. Spreydon, and the coup was brought off between 11.30 o’clock on Monday evening and 8.30 o’clock on T-uesday morning. Mr. Stillwell has of necessity had to keep fairly large sums of money overnight in liis house, as there is no means of banking the money taken at the dances until the following day. Until about a month ago he had a xeiy trustworthy watchdog, but the animal was poisoned. Last Monday evening was the first time that there had been a considerable stun of inonev in the house and po dog. Mr. Stillwell arrived home about .11 pm. and filaced the bag containing the takings from his shop in High Street and his dance takings under the bed in which he and Airs. Stillwell slept. When he awoke about 8.30 a.in. on -Tuesday Air. Stillwell saw his coat lying on the floor. Investigation showed that his wallet, containing about £G, had been taken, and a glance under the bed showed that the bag had disappeared. Further investigation showed also that the burglar went to the garage, entered bv a side door,' and took two dusters from the car. He then took a small stepladder used for window cleaning purposes, and with its aid was able to reach the fanlight over one of the windows in the side of the bouse. This fanlight was open, and he was able to reach through it and unlatch the window. To' reach the bag that was under the bed he had io make his way across the bedroom and round the end of the bed. The sum of money that was in the house was the biggest that Air. Stillwell has had there.! and all the circumstances placed right into the hands of the daring burglar.