HARBOUR THEFTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 134, 7 June 1911, Page 5

HARBOUR THEFTS.

FURTHER CASES RECORDED. EXTENSIVE OPERATIONS. Owners of pleasure craft and launch owners in particular have suffered severely at the hands of thieves during the past week. The thieves take everything movable, from blankets and food stuffs to parts of the engines, and in many cases owners have had to put off a cruise on discovering at the last moment that their boat had been rifled. "It is a curiouß thing," eaid a, well-known launch owner, "that these thefts aTe always general during the first month of winter. What is wanted is a police patrol boat, which the Minister has refused. Thefts from launches are carried out with impunity, and' it is high time the authorities made an active crusade against the evildoers."

Within the past week, in addition to, the cases reported yestere»y, no lessthan seven boats have been visited, and no doubt there are others which have not been reported. The launch Matareka was cleaned out, as her owner put it, foodstuffs, cordials, oilskins, suits, and hats all disappearing overnight on the eve of a cruise on'the King's Birthday. * From the launch Rewa a riding light, stove, blankets, etc., were taken, and the Mahoe was deprived of everything movable, including rugs, cooking utensils, etc In the case of the Countess the thieves were baulked of their prey, the owner having removed all the articles generally to be found on a launch, but, apparently from motives of spite, they smashed up all the lighter fittings. It is reported that at the North Shore last night two launches were broken into, and from one of them a considerable quantity of benzine was taken. The yax"ht Mahaki, quartered at Mechanics' Bay, was broken into last week, and her cabin was gutted, the thieves securing aa extensive hauL \_