EPIDEMIC OF -CRIME IN AUCKLAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3529, 21 May 1912, Page 2

EPIDEMIC OF -CRIME IN AUCKLAND.

ANOTHER SHOP ENTERED. THE SIXTEENTH BURGLARY. ELECTRICIAN’S STARTLING THEORY. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, May 20. Another burglary occurred on Saturday night or early yesterday morning, a chemist’s shop in the heart of the city being entered and £ls in cash being carried off. This makes the 16th burglary in the city and suburbs within two months. From inquiries -made here it seems that Auckland is being favored with the attentions of some highly skilled cracksmen who have mapped out an ambitious programme. Oil Thursday night* the building of Messrs Crawford and Houkl, sewing machine dealers, at the corner of Wellesley and Albert Streets, was entered and a small electrical engraving machine was stolen. Entry was gained by a window at the, rear of the premises, and, although there were other articles of value in the shop, the machine, which is only worth about £2 10s, was the only article stolen. The thief or thieves even overlooked 2s in an open till. Asked as to why this comparatively valueless machine should have been the only article removed, Mr Crawford, one of the partners of the firm, advanced a rather startling theory. He said that the little machine was the only one of its kind in Auckland, and it was lying on the bench in front* of the window, where it could be seen by anyone passing. Though, the machine stolen could only be used for engraving, a larger model would make a very deadly drill, and Mr Crawford said he thought that, seeing the machine through the window, the thief liad conceived the idea of stealing it for the purpose of constructing a larger model to use as a/ drill t*o open a safe. He added that lie had heard from an authoritative source that other places in the city had been broken into and electrical fittings of very small intrinsic value had been stolenHe instanced that in one case a building was entered and an electric fan was taken carefully to pieces in order that the thieves might obtain part of it, possibly for future use in the construction of a machine, which if they tried to. purchase, would entail awkward questions being asked. A machine of the type stolen would be very difficult to dispose of, as pawnbrokers would give •nothing for it. and if the intruders were seeking to enrich themselves a valuable camera on the shelf in the shop could have been taken and easily disposed' of. Should there be anything iii Mr Crawford’s theory it* would appear as though a burglar gang were making highly expert preparations for an extensive haul.