Attempted Burglary.

Manawatu Herald, 13 September 1904, Page 2

Attempted Burglary.

A FUTILE ATTEMPT The Palmerston police received intimation yesterday morning~that an attempt had been made to dynamite the safe at C. Smith’s drapery establishment, in the Square, on Sunday night. Entrance had been effected to the shop through a window on the ground floor at the back, which, the manager states, was carefully locked on Saturday night by himself. Once in the shop, the safe was soon located, and a most determined efiort made to blow the door open. The sound of the charge was deadened by goods obtained in the shop. Fortunately, for the sake of the contents, the safe proved a hard nut to crack and the enterprising midnight visitors were unsuccessful. The shot broke the lock but the bolts held, and considerable difficulty was experienced in getting the safe open yesterday morning, in fact all attempts failed, and a locksmith had to cut in through the side. There was about £3O or £4O in cash in the safe at the time. The table-cloths etc., used to deaden the sound of the explosion were destroyed by the charge. The police have the matter in hand. It is surmised the work is, perhaps, that of the gang of whom Wellington shopkeepers were warned by the police last week, dynamite being the agent employed by the gang referred to.