A DARING ROBBERY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9115, 7 April 1908, Page 7

A DARING ROBBERY.

the thief caught in the ■ A-CT. A BOLD DASH AND HARD CHASE. THE POLICE ON THE HUNT. Per Press Association. Auckland, April 6. A particularly dariug member of the light fingered fraternity turned his attentions to the residence of Mr Charles' Moon, of the Pah Road, Mount Rbskill, at about 4 p.m. on Saturday. An extraordinary feature ’> 0 f the case is the that Mr and Mrs Moon were at the time in the garden at the back of the house, while the children were in the house itself. Asa result of subsequent investigations it appears that the cause of all the trouble, after entering the garden, carefully removed his boots, which he placed under the front verandah. Then, entering the house either by the front bedroom window or by the back door, he made for the bedroom and commenced the operation of taking into his own charge the more valuable contents of the apartment. His depredations were rudely interrupted by the entrance of Mrs Moon, time only permitting of the execution of a strategic movement to cover under the bed. Mrs Moon at once gave the alarm and as her husband came to her call the man dashed out from his hiding place and made his exit by the front door. The ensuing race across country was replete with incident. The bootless thief, with Mr Moon close at his heels, jumped a wall and two barbed wire fences, his pursuer being also successful in negotiating them. Observing that he was losing ground the quarry dropped his Jcoat, which Mr Moon picked up. Gaining a material advantage, the fugitive led the chase on to the Pah Road, hut approach-

ing Mr Worrall’s property, cleared a boxthorn hedge and set off again across the fields. Instructed by Mr Moon, a boy on horseback made an effort to block the man, who, however, was finally successful in gaining the cover of the scrub near St. John’s College; The Onehnnga police under Sergt. Rogers, were immediately on the scent of the escapee, hut although they searched until dusk could find no trace of the missing man. Yesterday Detective Cox and Skinner, of Auckland, superintended the search, which, is also continuing to-day. After the abrupt departure,of the thief the jewellery, valued at about £4O, was found lying loosely under the bed the intruder having been unable to find the sum of £3O which was in the room. It is believed that the only articles missing are a Bengal razor, a flax kit, and 10s in silver.