DARING BURGLARY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 538, 15 December 1928, Page 1

DARING BURGLARY

Safe and Strongroom Blown Open PONSONBY FACTORY ROBBED A DARING burglary was effected at College Hill nearly opposite the Ponsonby Post Office during- last night or the early hours of the morning when the premises of the Hydra Bacon Factory were entered. A strongroom and safe were blown open and the sum of £3O 5s 6d in notes and cash was taken. It is considered that it was the work of experienced burglars.

The office and factory were occupied up till ten o'clock last evening when the building was locked up for the night. It was at half-past six this morning, when employees made an early start, that the burglary was discovered.

A powerful charge had been placed in the door of the strongroom, situated in the general office, but apparently it was too strong for the purpose, the door being driven in and jammed in the opening. There was no sign that the interior had been interfered with in any way. The men, it is assumed it was the work of at least two men, were evidently fairly experienced hands at the work. Putty had been tightly packed round the door to deaden the sound and this had evidenly been effective for although the strongroom is situated only a ;ew yards from the street the robbers had been able to work without interruption after two explosions. Pieces of putty had been scattered around the office and a portion of the lock which had been blown into the strongroom was found imbedded in an invoice book on one of the shelves. It is thought that gelignite was used. The cash had been placed in a small safe in an inside office, which is only a few feet from the street. This had offered little resistance, the lock being neatly put out of action by a well-placed charge. Jemmy marks also showed where an office desk had been prised open in a further search for anything of value.

The strongroom door is constructed of two strong steel plates bolted through thick centre-pieces. The plates had been forced apart in places and the bolts unloosened by the force of the explosion. The men had experienced no great difficulty in gaining an entrance, to the building. Additions to the factory are being made at the rear of the building, and the new building is now level with a high wall that encloses the backyard of the present factory. With ladders placed conveniently around the new building, and also from the building under construction down into the yard, gaining access to the back door was a simple matter. A short time ago one of the windows opening into the yard had been broken up, and as that portion is soon to be built over it was not repaired, hut merely barricaded up with planks. These had been pushed in, and admittance gained to the factory and office. THE PROFESSIONAL TOUCH The factory is situated within about 50yds or so of the Ponsonby Post Office at Three Lamps, and it is remarkable that, despite the fact that two explosions occurred, the men were able to work without interruption, this being probably due to the presence of an accomplice to keep watch outside the building. Several previous attempts have been made on these premises, but they were of a very amateurish nature and nothing was obtained. On this occasion, however, the professional touch was very much in evidence.