BURGLAR ESCAPES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 28 August 1939, Page 14

BURGLAR ESCAPES

TRAPPED BY WOMAN INTRUDER IN HOUSE (Per Press Association.) DARGAVILLE, this day. A courageous plan to trap a burglar was carried into effect in Dargaville on Friday night and it worked with success until the burglar made a dash and evaded capture on account of his fleetness of foot. Mrs. M. Peko, residing in Victoria road, usually leaves her home unoccupied on Friday evening while she relieves her husband in his shop for tea. About two weeks ago the house was entered during the afternoon. Last evening Mrs. Peko, instead of going to the shop, left her front bedroom window open, extinguished the lights, and remained in the darkness of a passage in the house. About 6.45 p.m. she heard an intruder approaching the front of the house and then heard him enter the bedroom. She approached the bedroom, switched on the light and saw a young man, a stranger to her. “You have me this time and I suppose you are going to ring for the police,” said the man. Mrs. Peko turned to use the telephone, but the man hurriedly escaped. Stye picked up an axe handle and chased the man, who dashed across to the opposite side of the road, where his bicycle was lying against a hedge. As he was mounting to escape Mrs. Peko succeeded in striking him across the head.