DARING BURGLARY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4622, 7 November 1923, Page 2

DARING BURGLARY.

ENTRY TO TRADING COMPANY. GELIGNITE USED ON SAFE A daring burglary took place during the early hours of this morning, when the premises of tbe Paeroa branch of the Farmers’ Union Trading Co., Ltd., were entered by breaking a glass panel in tjhe door- of the hardware entrance. It was then an easy matter to unbolt the door, which was fastened insidfe Once inside, the burglar apparently :went .straight to the office, which isolated .in the centre of the building at .Ine.J’ear of the premises. It appears that a charge of gelignite was applied tp one of the safes in an endeavour to open it, but the first charge proved unsuccessful and a second charge was fired, kapok mattresses being used to muffle the sound. The fuses were made of tow and evidently the charges did not perform the work required of them, as the safe was not blown open so as to enable the contents to be taken, as only the lock and handle were bent and damaged, the door remaining intact. Mr D. Brown, manager of the Paeroa branch, who lives in Williams Street, states that he was dressing soon after five o’clock this morning when he heard a. muffled explosion, followed shortly afterwards by a second report He then went, into the stieet, walking as far as Wells and Sons’ shop. From there he had a clear view of the Farmers’ Union promises, and observed a man standing near the entrance to the hardware department. As soon .as the person saw Mr Brown standing on the comer he commenced to walk UP the street towards the station. Mr Brown 1 spoke to the man, but received r.o answer, although, he was able to get a good look at him. Mr Brown then hastened to the shop, and on opening the front door found the place full of smoke and the odour of gelignite in the air. With the assistance of Mr J. Pennell and a lad the burglar was kept in view in the street; and the police were notified of the occurrence. Constable McClinchy arrived quickly on the scene and apprehended the man near the photographer’s in Belmont Road and took him to the lockup. On being searched the only money, found on his person was the modest' sum of lid, and a return second-class ticket to Waihi, together with a pawn ticket bearing the name of an Auckland firm of pawnbrokers. There was also a small quantity of tobacco, which had apparently been taken from the shop. Detective Sweeney, of Hamilton, assisted by Constable McClinchy, has been further investigating the affair, with the result that a piece of l‘%ia piping about, 6ft in length was found in the backyard of the chinaman’s shop adjoining the Trading Company’s premises.

The man on being apprehended gave the name of George Scothern, but he is believed to be George Smith, a farmer and blacksmith of Katikati. The suspect is to be brought before; the Police Court this afternoon, when it Is thought that the police will ask for a remand.