AUDACIOUS THEFTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 May 1939, Page 11

AUDACIOUS THEFTS

DIAMOND RINGS POCKETED BY “CUSTOMER.” AUCKLAND JEWELLERS’ LOSSES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 10. Diamond rings of the retail value of nearly £4OO have been stolen in an audacious manner from two city shops in Auckland in the past fetv weeks. In each case the rings were pocketed by a “customer” while the assistant’s back was momentarily turned. The thieves are believed to be identical with those who have been operating with success in Wellington recently. In a similar manner several hundred .pounds’ worth of jewellery has been stolen from shops there. It is reported that the thieves demonstrated their skill and daring in one case by substituting “paste” stones for the diamond which they handled on the top of the counter.

The first indication the police had that there were jewel thieves in Auckland was about six weeks ago when nine diamonds rings valued at £175 were stolen from a large city store. It was a busy Friday night and while the assistant were serving customers a thief removed diamonds which were mounted on a pad from a cabinet and slipped out of the store.

Two well dressed men on another Friday night about a fortnight ago walked into a shop, but the jeweller considers that he was fortunate in not losing more than a clock valued at £6 10s. While he was showing one of the men some rings the jeweller saw the other man walk out of the shop with a fairly large chiming clock under his coat.

The jeweller said he did not give chase because ne had become suspicious of the man he was serving. This man had persisted in having a size taken. It occurred to the jeweller that the man-thought he would probably have to leave the shop to get a ring-tester. Upon seeing the other man make his departure with the clock, the jeweller asked. “What has your friend got under his coat?” Without even turning round, he replied, “What did he take? He is not my friend.” Two customers then entered the shop and the man left, saying that he would come back on the following Monday. The latest theft occurred a week ago, when 17 diamond rings valued at £2OO disappeared from a Queen Street jeweller’s shop. It was a slack day for business and the manager was redressing the windows. Two men came into the shop shortly after 4 o’clock in the afternoon ana one asked to be shown some women's dressing sets. He did not make a purchase, but after the two men had gone the manager found that a pad of diamonds rings which were on the display counter beside which the other person had been standing had disappeared.