MONEY AND JEWELLERY STOLEN

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1927, Page 1

MONEY AND JEWELLERY STOLEN

I'NUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 8. On Friday night the residence of ATr J. Stack, at tlio corner of Severn and Dee Streets, St. Albans, was visited by a thief, who stole £SO from the pockets of Mr Stack’s clothes. Air Stack was asleep, and the clothes were hanging on a bedpost withTn eight inches of his head. It was not till the following morning that the loss was discovered. Air and All's Stack rose early, and the absence of the notes was discovered at 5.20 a.in. Mrs Stack noticed that something was wrong when she saw that a cake-tin had been interefered with. It was then flint Air Stack discovered bis loss. /The money comprised two CIO notes, five £5 notes and five. £L notes. The marauder left liv way of the back door. A gold watch and other valuables were passed over by the thief. A similar theft was committed at the residence oT Airs Morrison, of 9, Thames Street, St. Albans, last Wednesday afternoon. Airs .Morrison loft home, being away between 3 p.m. and 5.30 p.m.. and on her return she found that her house had been entered by means of a fanlight at the side of the house. On this occasion a diamond ring.* valued at £3O, was stolen. It was evident that the marauder had put his arm through the open fanlight and unclasped the window beneath. There was clay on the linoleum beneath the window. Other valuables had escaped the thief's notice. It was the first time in eleven years that the ring had been taken off and not locked up laiLlifully. Decently another lady in Phames Street had had valuables to the value of £4O stolen in a similar manner. Tt is thought that these daring thefts may Ih> the work of a man who. on November 19. entered the dwelling of Mr Deg Stillwell at Diecartnn. and removed £l5O from under his tied. Another victim was ATr E. C. M’Dermott, of Spreydon, who bad between £IBO and £2OO stolen from his clothing while he slept on the night of December 21. In each ease the thief left by the back door. With the exception of the Thames Street thefts, money was the sole object of the burglaries. It seems as if the thief had a knowledge of the fact that the victims had large sums in their possession at the time.