It was one of the most painstaking thefts that have been carried out in Rushden during the last few years, and those responsible for the raid had evidently studied their ground with care and skill.

Mr. A. Lewis, caretaker of the Theatre, arrived as usual at 7.30 on Wednesday morning, and, going to the back of the building before unlocking it, saw one of the windows behind the stage wide open at the bottom.

The lower sash bore the marks of a jemmy, and on looking through the gap Mr. Lewis was surprised to see two implements belonging to the burglar’s usual range. One was a steel shaft, about 15 inches long, sharpened into chisel form at one end and with a claw-like projection at the other end. The other was a fairly large screwdriver with wooden handle. Both tools were apparently new.

The Entrance

The caretaker at once called P.C. Nichols, who was on duty in the High-street nearby, and they made an inspection which revealed at first glance that the thieves had made a long stay and worked with careful method.

The theatre stands in its own grounds, and was evidently approached from the direction of Washbrook-road, where the visitors would be well shielded from view.

From the stage window, which is not very high in the wall, it would be an easy matter for one or more persons to enter and cross the stage, passing through the auditorium to the lobbies, pay-boxes and chief office at the High-street end of the building.

The office of Mrs. Catling, the manageress, on the first floor near the entrance to the balcony, was the scene of the principal damage.

By making a hole in a wooden panel of the door, the thieves had been able to unfasten the slip lock from the inside.

Utter Confusion

The room, which is well appointed and overlooks the High-street, was found in a state of utter confusion.

Thick plush curtains had been carefully drawn over the two windows, and safe from outside observation, the thieves had settled down to a thorough search for money.

The large safe which stood in a corner was found on its side, having been moved several feet.

Metal plates at the bottom, side and back had been wrenched away, releasing heaps of fireproof filling material (a grey powder), with which the carpeted floor was smothered.

Almost everything – books, stamps, documents and bags – had been removed from the safe, opened and examined, and scattered about the room.

A handbag containing about £20, part of Tuesday’s takings, was missing, and about 10s. worth of postage stamps had gone, but a large stock of entertainment tax stamps remained, though these, like everything else, had been taken out and inspected.

Paper bags from which coppers had been emptied were on the floor.

Mrs. Catling’s roll top desk had been forced open and ransacked, but the thieves wanted nothing but money and stamps, and Mrs. Catling, on her first inspection of the wreckage, missed nothing of value.

Bloodstains

An electric torch belonging to the theatre was found in the room, but the bulb was useless – as the thieves found for themselves after removing the lens.

Bloodstains were found on a large envelope which had been torn open.

A door leading from the manageress’s office to a store room under the amphitheatre had been forced open but in this case the intruders found nothing for their pains.

By far the most risky part of the robbery took place on the ground floor, just inside one of the main entrance doors, where the chief pay-box, which has windows within view of the High-street, was entered. An attempt was made to prise the door open and much of the woodwork was splintered but the thieves finally changed their plans and knocked a hole through a glass panel, inserting a hand and unfastening the slip lock.

In this case there were no curtains to draw, and in working without a light the thieves got no more than a shilling. Boxes of chocolates were left untouched.

Knowledge of Theatre

In choosing this pay-box instead of a similar one at the opposite entrance, which is used only for booking, the visitors showed a knowledge of the theatre’s system.

It is thought that the operating box was visited, but the thieves fortunately left alone the projecting and “talkie” apparatus valued at £3,000.

As the position of the tools shows, the intruders left as they entered, by the back window, after a job which meant their taking hours to perform.

The police were quickly informed, and Inspector Knight, of Rushden, and Supt. Jones, of Wellingborough, have the case in hand.