WANTON DESTRUCTION.

Wairarapa Age, 22 February 1927, Page 5

WANTON DESTRUCTION.

BURGLARS IN MERCHANT’S STORE.

DRUNKEN THIEVES KUN AMOK.

DUNEDIN, February 21.

Asmall army of men occupied this morning clearing up after the havoc and destruction wrought by prowlers yesterday at Messrs Murray Roberts’ stores. Fires were lighted in no fewer than seven places, and to the damage done by fire has to be added that done by water used in its extinction, and the wanton destruction wrought by knife and chisel on sacks of. seed and wool, and cases of liquor, tea and tobacco. The actual amount of the loss caused has not yet been estimated, but will be coevred to a large extent by the insurance.

In what bears the appearance of a wild, drunken carousal, the intruders, who first gained entrance by bursting open a trap door in the main door, even tore the telephone completely off the wall. It is already evident that a considerable amount of liquor has been removed, though a complete tally had not been taken at 4 o’clock to-day. Several attempts, the last about two years ago, have previously been made on this store, but none have been so determined as this one. So far the police have no announcement to makes as to the discoverey of the burglars.— (P.A.).