A HOTEL MARAUDER

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1926, Page 4

A HOTEL MARAUDER

RACE-GOERS’ POCKETS RIFLED,

DUNEDIN. Feb. 12. When three Canterbury race-goers entrained for Wingatui on Thursday, their joint banking account showed a deficit of £2O, which had disappeared into the pocket of a member of the light-fingered fraternity, and not intothe pocket of a brother punter. The thief was busy in a city hotel on Wednesday night, but he was not an .expert- risk-taker, for if he had pursued lii.s “dipping” operations lie would have made a haul of £l7O. The three visitors, apparently well-to-do and .astute business men, had arrived in Dunedin for the rates. They were accompanied by a fourth man. On retiring for the night, the fourth racegoer removed liis wad of notes and silver from Ids trouser pockets and wisely placed the money in bis pyjama coat- pocket, which lie pinned. The others, however, were not so cautious, and apparently trusted the thousands of visitors who were in town for the races and the Exhibition. They hung their trousers, in which £2O was placed over their coats. They all slept peacefully, and the silent movements of a hotel marauder did not- disturb them. In the morning, though, their feelings u-rr-e disturbed. The money in the three pairs of trousers was missing. Twenty pounds was a bad loss, but thoughts of even greater losses gave them a bad hall-minute. They wasted no time in searching through the coats beneath the rifled garments, and breathed more freely when they found that many £1 notes were still in the pockets. The burglar had missed a >m a!l fortune. Evidently in his rush to remove the contents of the trouser nockels, and make a hasty departure before the sleeping quartet were disturbed, he had, fortunately for the visitors omitted to make further i»vestigation of the clothing. In all, £l3O was untouched. The man who was wary, and had placed the money in his pyjama pocket, lost nothing. The police were immediately advised of tfie theft. The room was in a part of the hotel some distance from the exits and fire escapes, and it. is apparent that the marauder had a knowledge of the rooms. The visitors, however, hiu.l failed to lock the door of :!:o room, and the thief gained an

easy entrance when the men were asleep. The polio? are iiivstignting, and it is understood that they -ano following seme clue which will result in ail early arrest.

The theft of the money should be a warning to hotel guests to lock the doors of their rooms at night and during their absence. Chief-Detec-tive Lnvis stated yesterday that people who were so careless were looking for trouble, and bo hoped that more car< v would be exercised during the period of the Exhibition.