TRAIL OF CRIME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 87, 23 January 1942, Page 4

TRAIL OF CRIME

TWO YOUTHS CQMMIT THEFTS. CASE OF BAG-SNATCHING. PROBATION FOR TWO YEARS. A trail of crime embarked upon by two youths who left Christchurch recently came to an end at Ashburton last week, when both were arrested following a bag-snatching episode in East Street. The youths, both aged 17 years, were Philip H. Gibbons and Eric C. Grant, who appeared before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., this morning, after spending a week in gaol, and were admitted to probation for two years, a condition being that they were not to associate during that term. Both pleaded guilty to the following charges: Stealing £2, the property of a person unknown’, at Christchurch, on January 12; stealing £7 12s, the property of Stanton Bros., at Christchurch, on January 8; stealing a hand-bag and contents, valued at £7 15s, the property of Airs Lloyd, at Ashburton on January 15. Grant pleaded guilty to converting to his.own use a bicycle valued at £l3 15s, the property of John Dick, at Christchurch; and Gibbons entered a similar plea to a charge of converting a bicycle valued at £lO, owned by William Moeeham. of Christchurch. Senior-Sergeant J. F. Cleary said that the accused saw an aged pensioner produce £2- in notes jn a billiard room at Christchurch and followed him down the stairs. On the toss of a coin it was decided that Gibbons should attempt to get the notes from the old man. Gibbons asked the pensioner to change some money and when tbe notes were produced, snatched them and bolted.

/Continuing, the Senior-Sergeant stated that accused wont to the place of business of a farmer employer of Gibbons, where they waited tor a hoy to leave tire premises, which they entered through an unlocked door and stole a. caslMiox containing £7 12s. On January 13 they stole the bicycles and rode to Ashburton, where they slept in a haystack. On January 15 they saw Airs Lloyd, an elderly woman walking along a footpath, carrying a handbag. Grant rode along the footpath behind her and snitched the bag. Mrs Lloyd called out and a military des-patch-rider on a motor-cycle came to her aid, catching Grant and eventually handing Jinn over to the police. (Jihlions hid in the neighbourhood and was apprehended later. Gibbons, who had a college education, had a previous conviction for theft, stated Senior-Sergeant Cleary. Grant had been at work since *M ay, 1941, but bis employer had said that lie was unreliable. He went missing, but his father declined police assistance to trace him. Grant had a good up-bringing, but his father had been too indulgent with him. His brother was prepared to keep him under control. A period of probation was recommended for both. They had been in prison since January 15. Gibbons said he had committed the offences because he wanted money. “Both you boys want discipline,” said the Magistrate in convicting the accused. “You have to make up your minds now whether you are going to go by the straight road or the criminal road.”

The youths wore ordered to make restitution of the money stolen.