ROBBERY ON LINER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 129, 14 March 1939, Page 6

ROBBERY ON LINER.

TWO OF THE CREW ARRESTED. SENSATION ON LUXURY CRUISE. (Per'Press Association). WELLINGTON, March 13. A robbeji’y took place on board the luxury liner, Strathallan, during .her cruise in New. Zealand waters in the last few days. Thieves broke into the barber’s shop and stole watches, cigarette cases, a camera, and trinkets valued at from £IOO to £l5O. Investigations by _ detectives, however, re suited in the recovery of the articles and the arrest of two members of the crew before the liner left Wellington to-night for Sydney. He»«departure ’ was delayed 90 minutes while the police completed their inquiries. The men will appear in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, to-morrow morning, charged with the theft. , The Strathaflan arrived at Auckland last Friday with 950 passengers, Some 200 who wished to travel overland through the North Island disembarked there. -She sailed again on Saturday evening for Wellington. The following day the articles were missed from the barber’s shop. As on most large passenger liners, this institution is more than a mere hairdresser’s booth. On arrival at Wellington the robbery was at once reported and three detectives started to investigate. They were faced with- a difficult task, having only about ,12 hours to seek the thieves, among a passenger list of nearly 1000, and a crew of 200. They had also to search, the ship, a- floating city, for the missing articles: The Strathallan was scheduled to leave Wellington at 6.30 this evening on her return to Sydney. She- lay at the wharf until 8 o’clock was striking, when at last the gangway was lowered, the ropes cast off, and she backed out from the wharf. Shortly before this the detectives were seen leaving the ship. TWO YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. REMANDED FOR SENTENCE. WELLINGTON, This Day. Frank William Chalmers, aged 17, a lift boy, and Victor Jack Bunny, aged 19, stewards’ assistant, members of the crew of the liner Strathallen, . weie charged to-day before Mr fetilweff, S.M., with the theft of jewellery and trinkets, valued at about £4B. Both pleaded guilty. Tho police said that on aryival of the ship at Auckland the store, which contained jewellery and other articles, was sealed by Customs officials and appeared to be quite in order. It was subsequently discovered that tho. seal had been broken and goods stolen. On the Strathallen’s arrival at Wellington detectives investigated and later interviewed accused, who made statements admitting the offences. The police had no desire that accused should be kept in New Zealand. It- was understood that the steamer Kent would be sailing on March 23, and the police suggested a remand for -sentence till March 22. This was granted.