LARGE SUM STOLEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1943, Page 3

LARGE SUM STOLEN

FROM AUCKLAND RESTAURANT SAVINGS OVER PAST 20 YEARS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 24. An impudent burglary involving the loss of nearly £14,000 was carried out above the Sunshine Grill Rooms, Queen Street, Auckland, during the absence of the proprietor, Mr Tom Vittle, last night. The money was stolen from a safe in Mr Vittle’s bedroom and represented his accumulated savings over the past 20 years, between £9OOO and £lO,OOO of the total,was in American dollar bills of various denominations, and the balance in banknotes and a little silver.

When Mr Vittle left his premises at 7.50 to go to‘- a picture show he locked the door of his bedroom, which is upstairs, above the restaurant, and had the key of the safe in his pocket. He returned at 10.20, but did not immediately go to his bedroom, remaining in the kitchen, assisting his staff. On going upstairs at 11.40 he found the bedroom door locked as it had been left, but on entering the room he saw the safe door wide open. The money, which had been done up in bundles of notes, was missing.

The bedroom window was open, and it is believed that the thief gained entrance over the roofs of the buildings from a side street. As the safe was not blown open, it is a mystery how the door was released.