BURGLARY AT NAPIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3701, 10 December 1912, Page 5

BURGLARY AT NAPIER.

TAILOR’S SAFE BLOWN OPEN. [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT] NAPIER, Dec. 9. The discovery was made this morning that a safe in Mr J. Boyce’s tailoring establishment, in Emerson Street, had been blown open with dynamite and all negotiable cash removed. The find was 'made just before 8 o’clock this morning by Mr Boyce, who states that there was only about. £24 in hard cash in the safe. There were a number of cheques, but these were left behind by the unwelcome visitors. The wrecked safe was left under a counter in the shop quite sound .on Saturday evening, but this morning it was found in the cutting room, -having been removed ■ a distance of over 12 yards and through two dpors. This fact that lporo than one person was concerned in the work. The safe was placed on several rolls of cloth tweed as a precautionary measure to stop the noise of the explosion, and the sides, top, and back and front were also well packed up with valuable rolls of material. After a plug of dynamite had been inserted through the hole left after the handle had been removed a fuse was attached, as part was found lying on the floor this morning. The effect of the explosion was eminently successful from the cracksmen’s point of view, the safe door being blown clean open and so battered about as to make the safe absolutely useless. Most of the tweed built up all round the safe has been badly, burned and the cheques, etc., show signs of being smoked. The card system (accounts) and a box containing it was not much damaged, although all the cards bearsigns of the severity of the explosion. The police were communicated with immediately the discovery was made, and Detective Kemp has the matter in hand. It is not known when the outrage was committed, but those accustomed to the smell of dynamite had no difficulty in nominating the means used to give access to the cash, which, fortunately, was not a large amount, hardly a sufficient reward for the trouble taken. It is not known how entrance was effected as there are absolutely no signs of force being used ,n, any part of the building. The side door was locked on the inside and with the key in the lock was found open this morning, and it is believed that dynnmitards made use of this door in quitting. The exact time of the occurrence may be definitely placed as at meal time yesterday Mr 0. L. Thomas (chemist) heard what he took to he a small, explosion of gas and remarked on the noise at the time. As he, attached no importance to the affair he cannot now remember at which meal he heard the noise. As Mr and Mrs Thomas had visitors during the day they are being communicated with. to see" if they can place the time, which mat assist in providing a clue.