THE POLITE BURGLAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 85, 17 April 1913, Page 6

THE POLITE BURGLAR.

LEAVES A FRIENDLY- NOTE. The Sydney Daily Telegraph says it has been the practice of Mr Arthur Carrington, managing director of the firm of Messrs Carrington and Co., whose factory . at. Forest Lodge was entered by thieves on. Sunday night, 6th inst., tol eave the safe keys on the top of the, safe. From the safe all money was fifst removed, and the idea of leavipg. the keys was that should, a bu.rglar come that way lie would see and use them, and not dam--1.7 . ■ age the safe with nasty explosives or cold chisels or anything of that sort. Op Sunday might the burglar, did comO. He did see the keys and he did use them. Then he seems to hove sat down and written a little note of recognition. He wrote:— Dear sir,—After entering your premises with the aid of a friendly crowbar, we made a beeline to the safe. We saw, to our astonishment and joy, that we were to be spared the muscular effort of prizing it open. Providence wrts working on our behalf for there, lying nonchalantly on the top of the safe, were the keys. We unlocked the. safe, but heyppd some ledgers and contract papers, no splosh was perceivable. This quite unnerved us, so, we looked round'for some solatiunTto ease our troubled spirits. Thi> we found in the shape of a partly-used tin of biscuits, some cheese and lemonade. We were very grateful for these, and, although we did-not ask a blessing on them, we blessed the donors for their thoughtf.ullness in thus making provision for us.—• Yours till the next visit, Bill Sykes and his dog.

In the opinion of a detective officer, they were very inexperienced burglars if they. considered it might he possible to prize open the safe, as mentioned in the Ittrl— :,.ffitaOinetaion tioned in the letter. The police express some doubts as to the authenticity of the note.