BURGLARIES IN PAEROA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5029, 20 September 1926, Page 2

BURGLARIES IN PAEROA.

o BUSINESS PEOPLE VICTIMISED. SEVERAL SHOPS ENTERED. From information received it appears that an epidemic of burglaries’ is passing over Paeroa, and severa.l business places have been broken into. Early last week the confectionery shop of Miss L. Marshall’s was, entered in broad daylight and the sum of over £lO was taken from a cash drawer in the shop. It appears that Miss Marshall was absent frdm the shop for a few minutes while unpacking some stock at the back of the premises. When she returned and went to the cash drawer later on she found the money was missing.

On Friday night or early on Saturday morning the premises df Mr S. JHedge a.nd those of Messrs Brocket and Shand were entered, and in each instance sums of money were taken. Entrance to Brocket and Shand’s was apparently gained from the rear of the shop. A panel- was split near the door and through this a hflffd was thrust and the bolt locking tire door pushed back. Once inside the building the door leading into the shop was opended by means of the key which had been left in the lock. Entrance to the office from the shop was gained in a similar manner. The drawers in the office table'were ransacked, a.nd the sum of £1 in pennies placed in an envelope in the drawer was taken. The stock appeared to be untouched, except possibly for the theft of a tin of 50 cigarettes.

By means of the keys, taken from Messrs Brocket and Shand’s- it is thought that the front door of Mr Hedge’s shop was opened, as indications point to the premises having been entered in this .manner.

As is Mr Hedge’s custom, the day’s takings were removed from the cash register on Friday night, with the exception of about £3 in mixed silver which was left for change next morning. The cash register was purposely left unlocked, and the intruder had no difficulty in extracting the cash.. The thief apparently showed some discrimination in this cas®, as he confined his attention to the taking df the loose silver, and the pennies were left intact. So far as can be ascertained the stock was not interfered with. The police have the matter in hand, and careful investigations- are being made.. Needless to say the thefts; are ca.usihg people a good deal df uneasiness, and care should be taken to ensure the removal df valuables overnight and the securing of windows and doors-.