CATCHING BURGLARS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1917, Page 1

CATCHING BURGLARS.

A MEUIOmiNK STOUT. Sydney, July 4. The manner in •which an expert burglar’s plant "was discovered and seized recently by Melbourne detectives makes an interesting story, boi some time past, Melbourne has been troubled by a gaiig or gangs, of thieves, who have shown much expertness in breaking into safes and strong-rooms. The detectives, goaded by public criticism, have been keeping a keen look-out, but, for a time, without much success.

The other morning, however, a young detective named Grieve was making certain inquiries in Fitzroy when he chanced to see, on a motor cycle, with side-car attached, a man whose whereabouts had been puzzling the police. The suspect stopped, took another man into his side-car, and set off again. Grieve instantly decided tf follow. He stopped a passing motor car, hastily explained what he. wanted, and lay down in the bottom of the.car. The motorist kept, the cycle in sight until it, was stopped in a mean Fitzroy street,. Then the motorist also stopped. Grieve slipped into a doorway, while his ally began to tinker with his engine. The watched men carried a suit case into the house. They came out 20 minutes later. ' The cyclist disappeared down a lane, bnt the other man came idly over to watch the motorist’s efforts with liis engine. Grieve was not to be baulked. He came out of the doorway, got into the car, and they followed the cyclist, caught sight of him again, and watched him go into a house in Carlton. Then the detective hurried off and summned reinforcements., Three men were sent oil" to the Carlton house, bnt the snspect in the mean, time had gone out. They waited patiently, and he came hack eventually, and was arrested. In the house was found a Colt automatic pistol, an electric torch, files, saws, blank keys ready for cutting, and other burglar’s equipment.

Meanwhile, Grieve and several other detectives searched the house in Fit,zroy, and made a great haul of burglar’s instruments. They found four oxy-acetylene metal-cutting blow-pipes, with four pressure guages, as well as other- implements. There was even a pair of goggles, to be worn by the man operating the blowpipes. The latter, it was said, would enable 12in steel to be cut through like cheese.

Subsequently the elated detectives went out and arrested a young man in a timber yard. On bis way to the city Grieve noticed the man fumbling at'his waistcoat, .and , then flick his hand. “What are you doing ?” demanded the detective. “A flea bit me,” said the youth, airily. But the par was stopped and the road searched, and an aquamarine pendant, with a small green tag with a number on, was found. When this was being displayed in the detective office, the prisoner grabbed desperately, bit off the tag, and swallowed it. It was no use. The pendant was identified as part of the proceeds of a recent city' robbery.