A POLITE THIEF.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 April 1921, Page 8

A POLITE THIEF.

BALKED BY A SCHOOLGIRL. London, Feb. 16. Miss Mary Barker, a schoolgirl, aged 16, behaved with remarkable coolness on encountering a thief in her house, in Beiihill-road, Sutton, and forced him to give up the jewelry he had taken. At about 1 o’clock the house was left unoccupied, and Miss Barker, who is the daughter of Mi'. G. F. Barker, of Messrs. W. H. Smith and Son, returned just before two. Describing what happened, Miss Barker said: — As I approached the front door I noticed finger marks on the paint work, and found that something had been forced between the lock on the door and the post. I banged the door, and a man opened it for me. He was fairly well dressed and appeared to be about 45 yeans of age. I was a bit taken aback, but he seemed more frightened than I was. He was very polite, and took off his hat, and said, “Good afternoon.” 1 asked what he was doing, and he replied, “Well, I have come to take something.” I said, “You have no business to be in here, Give me the things you have taken.” He then put his hands m his pockets and pulled out a handful of jewelry. There were two gold bracelets, a gold watch and a long neck chain, two brooches, and gold earrings. Altogether they were worth about £3O. He then said, “You can feel in my pockets if you likte, but I have not got anything else.” I felt, but there was nothing there.

I said, °I will telephone to the police” and he replied, “Yes, I expect you had better do it ” We both went into the dining room and he sat in a chair and waited while I was telephoning. As I was speaking to the pojiop the man jumped up, and locked me in the dining room. I jumped out’ of the dining-room window, but could not see him, so I waited for the police. Later 1 was shown a number of men by the police, and I identified him at once. His eyes werg so af'*’’""