MUSICAL THIEVES!

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 1

MUSICAL THIEVES!

Robbers Make Good Haul From Gramophone Shop

JAZZ RECORDS NOT IN DEMAND

Between 4,000 and 5,000 gramophone records were lying in a heap in Mr. S. H. Howie’s No. 2 shop in Upper Queen Street when Miss R. Kenyon arrived to open up for business this morning.

The total loss is not yet available, but six sound-boxes, valued at £3 10s each, many valuable records and a number of gramophone accessories were taken and a large quantity of records was found lying broken on the floor. While a SUN man was in the shop this morning Mr. Howie counted between £7 and £8 worth of broken records. best was evidently good enough for the thief or thieves who entered Mr. Howie’s shop some time last night. Only the best records were taken, those of the “lowbrow” variety being studiously avoided. When the shop staff arrived this morning the premises were found to be in a state of disorder. Between 4,000 and 5,000 record's had been taken from the racks and amassed in an inharmonious confusion on the floor of an inner room. Galli-Curci, Toti dal Monte, Melba and other prima donnas were mixed in an in-

glorious heap witli American virtuosos of the Charleston fraternity. It was then noticed that the soundboxes had been removed from the most expensive machines, together with several gramophone motors. A window in the rear of the shop had been broken and in this way the visitors gained admission to the premises by turning the window catch. The till of the cash register contained about £1 in cash, of which half was taken, the thieves having missed a ten shilling note. A number of records were broken and with those stolen the loss is heavy. But until stock is taken the amount of the damage is not available. A small hand-saw was left behind by the burglars, possibly as a thanksoffering for their haul. This is the third occasion within a period of two years that this particular shop has been robbed. On both previous occasions the thieves were caught and are still serving their sentences in gaol.