JEWELLERY TAKEN FROM HOUSE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1929, Page 2

JEWELLERY TAKEN FROM HOUSE

OWNER'S BRIEF ABSENCE,

AUCKLAND. Feb. 10

During the temporary absence of All and Airs R. A. Dowell from their house Melrose Rond, Alt. Roskill, early las night, an audacious robbery was carried out by a daring thief who worko quietly and quickly.

About 7.30 n.m. Mr Dowell walked along the road to post a letter at . street box, while Mrs Dowell, wit! others, walked down to the paddock. l at the rear of the. house to pick sonu strawberries. The hack door was lefi closed, hut not locked. About 8 o’clock Mrs Dowell came U| from the. paddocks and met her husband at the hack door. Mr Dowell then noticed that it was wide open. He remarked to Mrs Dowell that .-onieone lm< ueon inside. However, little notice was taken at the time, as Mr and Mr. 1 Daveil thought that a neighbour had called during their brier.ausem-e.

But the visitor was not of a friendly type, as Mr Dowell soon discovered. When he entered his bedroom to consult his watch as to the time, lie found that it was not on tbe table. Mrs Dowell then made a search for her watch. This was missing also. 0, going to see if her jewellery- was safe. Airs Dowell made the discovery that it had all been stolen from the drawer. Jn ; addition to Mr Dowell’s gold watch and chain, a silver watch, t-wc rings, one a five-stone diamond ring and a valuable striing of pearls, ns well ns about £3 in cash had been stolen. The jewellery was valued at £75.

Evidently- the thief had been disturbed when Air and Airs Dowell-re-turned to the house, as other articles of jewellery in another bedroom had not been touched. Airs Dowell believes that the robber had been watching her house and had seen Air Dowell leave about 7.30. The thief, she says, would have a good view of the paddocks from the house, and could have entered it after seeing her walk down to the paddocks.