DARING BURGLARY

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1930, Page 8

DARING BURGLARY

CARD PLAYERS ROBBED

AUCKLAND, April 29

While ten people were playing card: at the home of Mr James Hayes, is the Drivfe, Epsom, early last evening, a burglar entered the back door and stole from the breakfast room two handbags containing £ll 10s in cash. There has been an epidemic of house •obberies during the past few weeks in the suburbs of Auckland, but last night’s burglary was by far the most audacious committed by the tin who seems always to choose a hous where the occupants are at home i visitors. The heavy rain that fell las '/light no doubt aided the intruder. M Hayes’s house is situated immediate! opposite Alba Road. Mrs Hayes, in conversation with correspondent of the “Times” tin morning, said that her daughter,- M and Mrs Bishop and another lady wer •visiting her last night. The party ar rived before eight o’clock in a taxi, an ten people sat down to play cards y the front sitting-room. The blindwere,not drawn ,and those in the roon could be plainly seen from the street Evidently the theif entered a side pat! from the street and went to the bad door, which was not locked. The break fast room and kitchen at the rear o the house were both in darkness; win 1 the front was brightly illuminate' Mrs Bishop and the other guests botl left their handbags on top of the cab net in the breakfast room.

“Shortly after 9.30,” said Mrs Haye“l went- out to the breakfast room't prepare the supper. I evidently sur prised the intruder, for as I went t° wards the hack door, I heard a shut fling of Ife.et. The man quickly ran 6uf of the back door. I then noticed ttm J both handbags had disappeared. I call ed my son-in-law and others, and, al though they immediately went out tr the front gate no sign of the man cuulbe. seen.”

The two handbags, both rifled o' their contents, were found on a lawn!; few feet from the back door of tin house. In Mrs Bishop’s bag there ha' been £ll 10s in cash, comprising twr sovereigns, notes and silver, and a diamond ring worth £6O. The other bar contained £1 10s in,cash and a crossed cheque. The thief did not want thdiamond ring, perhaps because it migli 4 be easly detected. The ring, thcheque and other valuables war thrown on the lawn alongiside the rifW' handbags. The v thief made such a has’ exit that he could not have had tim to examine, the bags after he was disj covered. It is believed that he h ‘ visited the breakfast room prior t<" being disturbed by Mrs Hayes, examined, the contents of the bags before selecting the cash, and was making a second visit to the bedrooms when he was disturbed. The two sovereigns in Mrs Bishop’s handbag were enclosed in a- small papgr envelope and sealed The broken envelope was also found on the lawn. Mrs Bishop yesterdrrplaced the £ll 10s in her handbag to make a purchase in a city shop, bid decided not to buy until to-day.