DOING A “JOB.”

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1929, Page 2

DOING A “JOB.”

AN INTRIGUING STORY

UUK G LARS’ CAREFUL WATCH ON POLICE.

AUCKLAND, January 8

For (lie eighth time within just over two years one of Howie’s gramophone and music shops lias been burgled. Through a skylight thieves entered the Queen street shop last night and got awav with two portable gramophones, one table machine, just over L‘l in silver from the cash register, and a hundred records. All the morning assistants in the shop were assessing the value of the goods stolen, and as far as they can gather at present the total loss is about L'oO. Unlike the previous burglary in the Newmarket simp, when records were smashed, and everything tossed about willy-nilly, the "job” last night was a neat, quiet, and orderly one. Not one record was broken and many were replaced in their correct envelopes.' The thieves went down a back alleyway, found a ladder conveniently placed near a skylight. and got in. They opened the back door from the inside and went ahead with their careful selection of jazz numbers.

An amazing story of previous burglaries and how they were done by an Auckland man well known to the police was told by Mr S. Holden Howie, managing director of the firm, this morning. Such a large number of portable gramophones were being stolen some time ago from the Queen street shop that Mr Howie arranged with the police to have an officer sleeping on the premises, but astounding as it may seem, gramophones still disappeared. On one occasion two gramophones were marked and when the policeman took up his watch Mr Howie said to him. “ I bet you what you like those machines will be gone in the morning.” And in the morning they were gone. "The police thought we were playing a joke on them and almost insinuated as much,” said Mr Howie, " but it was no joke to have pounds’ and pounds’ worth df gramophones stolen. They not only took complete machines but also many spare parts including tone arms and sound boxes. They would not touch cheap sound boxes, but always selected the best.” And now comes an intriguing story of how the jobs were done. Some time ago Mr Howie was coming back in the train from To Awamutu. After a man in a nearby seat bad watched him closely for a time, the man went over and said: "You’re M.r Howie, aren’t you?” "Yes,” said Mr Howie. " Well, I’m ” (giving the name of a man ivho was well known to the Auckland police). A conversation followed, and while they were having lunch on Frankton Station the man, after a few questions had been put to him, told Mr Howie how he had done one or two " jobs.” He said that be wanted to express appreciation of the way Mr Howie had given evidence in a case against him. Eventually Mr Howie asked the man how he had got away with the machines from tlio Queen street shop. " It’s easy tor nnyhoTly with an inclination for thieving in Auckland to do a job.” was the reply. "We know every police beat in Auckland.”

“ Why did we lose more gramophones when police wore sleeping on the promises?” asked Air llowie. “Yell, said the man. “this is how we did it. The police left the shop for a short period, and while they were away we hopped in and got two or three more. Another tiling, the policemen who stayed at the place always went across to the wharf station for a cup ol codec soon alter midnight, and although they were away only a lew minutes there was plenty of time lor us to overhaul the place. All we did was to spread a hit of treacle over the skylight. put a piece of paper on top of it, and smash it with a fist. Then we could open the clasp and get in.” “ Jt was an eye-opener to me.” said Mr Howie, “for lie told me this story just after he had come out oi .Mount Eden Gaol. He wanted a gramophone just before he went to Sydney and 1 let him have one. He lias got a steady job over there, and 1 believe he b going straight. In any case he sends across monthly payments on the machine. I also gave him £2 to carry on with, when he was leaving 'lor Sydney. It’s about time they gave me a rest. Baid Mr Howio in conclusion. “I seem to he the one who gets it in the node all the time.”

Every night, without tail, Air Howie goes to all the company’s shops, and sees that they are properly locked up. Last night about ll.dO he passed the Queen street shop, hut just glanced in casually. A hank clerk, who sleeps next door to the shop, said he heard no sound.

Four of the six shops owned by the company have now been burgled, and all show traces of the thieves’ illicit work. The door of one shop shows the marks of a heavy jemmy, while the Newmarket premises show big marks on the floor, through which the men cut a hole 'from the basement big enough to climb through. Ihat burglary happened on Labour Day. and the men must have laboured most of the day to complete their work. On that occasion well over Ll(X> worth of stuff was stolen.