THEFT OF SPARES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 206, 13 June 1931, Page 7

THEFT OF SPARES

FOUR TAXI-DRIVERS CHARGED.

ONE’ IMPRISONED, OTHERS FINED

(Special to “ The Guardian ”). WELLINGTON, June 12. ‘‘We have had quite an epidemic of this class of offence for some months past,’’ said Sub-inspector Ward in the .uagistrate's Court to-day, when prosecuting rour taxi drivers on charges connected with thq theft of spare uneels and tyres from ears parked in the city and suburbs. The accused were Albert Kay Joslin, aged 23, who admitted seven charges of theft; Clarence George Joslin, aged 2d, who pleaded guilty to three charges; Allan Campbell JUeiville, aged 22j who pleaded guilty to one charge of receiving, and Cecil William Elliott, aged 33, who admitted one charge of theft anu one of receiving. Sub-Inspector Ward said that the offences were committed between April -1 and May'26. All the accused were members of the Diamond Taxi Cab Company, of which Melville was manager. The practice was to drive round tne city and suburbs late at night or early in the morning, and take spare tyres from cars found parked in the streets. In two instances cars had been jacked up and the wheels taken as well. All the property had been recovered, with the exception of one wheel, valued at £4. In defending the accused, Mr Leicester mentioned that the accused had told him that, in every case the cars had been left in such a condition that they could be driven away. The accused had been attempting to run a taxi business, charging ninepence a mile, but they had been unable to make it pay, and were unable to buy new tyres. No doubt there was a certain amount of need at the back of the offences, and, while that was no excuse, it threw some light on them, which to some extent was in palliation.

“I don’t know that I could recommend probation. I think the best i could recommend is a fine,” said the probation officer (Mr Mills). The Magistrate sentenced Albert Joslin to three months’ imprisonment, and fined each of the others £ls, in default two months’ imprisonment'. They are to be allowed to pay the fine at rate of £2 a week. An order was made against Clarence Joslin that he is to refund the value of the unrecovered wheel.