ROTORUA ROBBERIES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 737, 9 August 1929, Page 1

ROTORUA ROBBERIES

THIEF GRABS £lO FROM TILL “PORTER” VISITS BRENTS * (From Our Own Correspondent) ROTORUA, Thursday. Rotorua was the scene of two very impudent robberies this week. About 6.30 p.m. on Monday evening, Mrs. Johnston, who has a confectionery shop, served a customer, who tendered a pound note for his purchases. After receiving the change, he asked for some biscuits, which Mrs. Johnaton had to get from the rear of the ahop. While she was away she heard the clang of the cash-register, and called out to her husband. He ran through the shop in pursuit of the customer, who dashed into a waiting motor-car, which had the engine ruutung, and drove off. Mr. Johnston hurled himself at the car, but succeeded only in grasping the celluloid 'Kiudscreen, which gave way in his Band, and the car disappeared in the darkness. It was found that the sum of £lO in Botes had been taken from the register, some silver being overlooked in tile hurry. It is understood that a man has eeen arrested in Hamilton in connection with the theft. BRENT’S VISITED The same night Brent’s Boarding House was visited by a thief, who went into practically every room. On being challenged by people in the rooms, he Mid calmly that he was the porter, when ho failed to wake the sleepers he helped himself to any valuables he could find, but he missed a nice haul owing to lack of knowledge of its ’* hereabouts. The actual amount taken is not yet known. Although the visitor was seen the t'uests have a very hazy Idea of his appearance, as believing him to be the porter they took little notice of him. ARREST AT HAMILTON till theft admitted (Prom Our Oicn Correspondent) . w HAMILTON, Today. Hamilton motor-mechanic. Vaud*®y Burton, aged 22, committed an •Edacious theft recently. He pleaded to stealing £lO from the till a J*°torua confectioner’s shop, bet>»? r * Wyvern Wilson, S.M., in the Police Court today. ine police, after saying accLised had a-Ken the money from the till and r~* lVen off in a car, said he was the stfti highly respectable parents. He X lO1 © the money because he was in {"lancial difficulties. Accused was re***a<itd tor sentence till tomorrow*