BENZINE STOLEN

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 106, 7 November 1938, Page 2

BENZINE STOLEN

„ " . " ' ; :^v« THIEF DISTURBED THREAT 'JO SHOOT i When Mr. ti|. G. Hamilton and his family were returning to their home in the W’aiueka Gorge shortly alter 1U o’clock on Saturday night, they, noticed a. car proceeding very sloavlj' ahead of them near their home., Mr. Hamilton became suspicious and decided to investigate. He noticed that the car went a slioirt distance beyond his house and then stopped. The lights of the house were put out and it was decided to keep a .watch. A man was noticed walking down the road in the direction of Opotiki and he stopped near a small bridge three or lour chains from Mr. Hamilton’s house oil the Opotiki side. The ear then returned slowly down the road and stopped near tile bridge. Apparently one of the men went to the cow shed which is situated on tlio opposite side of the road to Mr. Hamilton’s house, and noises could he heard from the house.

Mr. Hamilton decided to and went to the shed armed witii a piece of timber. Finding the padlock on the door still intact lie went to the rear of the shed and Hashed a light through the hole through which the machine belts pass. The intruder was busily engaged syphoning benzine from a 40-gallon drum into a tin. With a threat that he would shoot if Mr. Hamilton did not stand clear the thief made a dash for the opening and although Mr. Ha miltoai made a swipe at. the thief with the piece of timber lie failed to connect. The man then made off in the direction of Opotiki and Mr. Hamilton immediately telephoned Sergeant J- lfillister. of Opotiki, who proceeded to the seem- of the attempted robbery. However nobody was encountered on the way, the thief apparently turning off on a sidenmd. Although all the sideroads were later combed by Sergei it Lsbister and Mr. Hamilton, no trace of the car was found. The intruder left behind him in the shed a tin. a length of hose and a large spanner. It Avas subsequently discovered that about four gallons of petrol had been removed from MV. W. D. Pratt’s cowshed which is about 10 miles I nun Opotiki in the Waioeku Gorge.