THIEF SURPRISED

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1930, Page 5

THIEF SURPRISED

SHOCK FOR HOUSEMAID. AUCKLAND, July 20. A daring thief was discovered at work on Friday afternoon in the house of Mr Duncan Clark, Bassett Road, Remuera. The thief and another man, believed to be his accomplice, have so far eluded the police. Hearing a noise as of someone moving in her bedroom the maid, Miss Pascoe, stepped through the doorway from the adjoining room and saw a man bending over an open drawer in the bureau. He was bareheaded, had bright red hair, and was wearing a faded blue suit. That much she saw before she shut her ej'es and screamed. The man turned swiftly and bolted through the opposite door into the hall. Air Clark was in the garden fit the back of the house, and did not see the visitor, but a party of telegraph linesmen who were working outside heard the scream and looked round iu time to see the red-haired man walk quickly out of the gate and up the street, breaking into a run as lie rounded the corner. He appeared to be carrying some small object in his hand. Later, when two of the linesmen were discussing the incident, they were approached by another man of dark complexion, whom they had noticed loitering about the vicinity for some time before the alarm. This man told one of the linesmen, “You keep your mouth shut, or I’ll fix you.” Noticing however that the linesman was gently swinging a heavy spanner in his right hand he checked a threatening movement and walked rapidly away round the corner. The police believe this man was the scout of the expedition. Miss Pascoe found that her only loss was the sum of 6s sd, which had been in the corner of her draw. The police traced the red-haired man to a hotel in Newmarket, where they found him in 'eompany with another answering to the description of the loiterer who had threatened to “fix’’ the linesman. The two eluded the police, however, and escaped in a taxi which was waiting outside. As the police appeared at one door of the bar the men bolted mP the other end and leaped into the taxi. The police believe that they had had the taxi waiting for them while they visited the premises on Bassett Road.