CAUGHT IN THE ACT, BURGLARS ESCAPE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 26

CAUGHT IN THE ACT, BURGLARS ESCAPE

CHASED BY POLICE ( Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH. Friday. Two burglars were surprised red-handed rifling a shop in St. Albans, and chased by the police in the early hours of this morning. They escaped through paddocks at the head of Mersey Street after a chase. The intruders were busy ransacking the shop at 2.15 a.m., when they were seen by Mrs. I. Matthews, who lives opposite. She notified the police, who arrived a few minutes later. Entrance to the shop was gained by the front door, a small jemmy forcing the lock. The intruders proceeded to fill their bags with perfumes, soaps and photographic goods to the value of about £lO. They were removing the choicest contents of the windows and were flashing a torch when Mrs. Mathews noticed them. The police were approaching the shop when the thieves rushed out and made off down the street with two bags of loot. A sergeant and a constable then gave chase, and they were within 30 vards of the burglars, who then ran down Mersey Street and disappeared in some paddocks. One of the thieves dropped his bag and the two succeeded in evading the police. There was £1 worth ot change in the till and £4 in another part of the shop, which the burglars over--Ino or!