MIDNIGHT PROWLER.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1922, Page 6

MIDNIGHT PROWLER.

EXCITING ARREST AT FENDALTON. For some time past residepts of Fendalton have been annoyed by midnight prowlers who have been going into people’s backyards and helping themselves to the contents of meat safes and anything else they could lay their hands on. The police have received several complaints and consequently Constable E. Porteousj of Fendalton, has been on the alert -for the offenders. In the early hours of Tuesday morning after an exciting struggle he arrested a man whom he found in the grounds of Mr. Warren Fisher’s residence at Garden Road, Fendalton. The man was brought before, the Court the next morning. Whilst walking down Garden Road shortly after midnight on Saturday, Constable Porteous had his suspicions aroused by hearing a noise at the back of Mr. Fisher’s residence. He also noticed a man’s bicycle leaning against the fence. There was a parcel on the bicycle containing a light felt hat. The constable heard further steps at rue back of the house and a sound as if doors were being tried. The constable quietly opened the -front gate and was going round the back of the house to investigate when his torch flashed on a man who. bolted as soon as he saw the constable. Constable Porteous gave chase and after an exciting struggle he overpowered the man.- In the meantime the inmates of the house had telephoned for assistance and the prisoner was subsequently driven to the lock-up in a taxi-cab. During the course of the struggle the man pulled something out of his pocket and threw it away. When a search was made later a hunch of keys was found. The man had bags in his possession when arrested. The police do not know anything about the prisoner, who looks about fifty years of age. He is thought to be a stranger to Christchurch.