AVONDALE BURGLARY.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 181, 1 August 1919, Page 5

AVONDALE BURGLARY.

TWO MEN ARRESTED.

■STOLEN GOODS IN A POTATO PLOT

A sequel to the-Ttheft of a very large j quantity of goods from Thode Bros. I general grocery at Avondale during the i week-end was the arrest yesterday evening of •Henry_Willia_a Wilcocks (36;, a wheelwright, at Panmure, for alleged complicity in the theft, and the finding of a quantity of goods, believed to he the fruits of several thefts, hidden about the accused's premises. The arrest was made by Detective-Sergt. Issell and Detective Lambert, who followed up their capture by arresting a farm hand named Gilbert Roy Mclndoe (22), on a farm, at West Tamaki, early this morning on the same charge of theft.

-Two large thefts from Thode Bros.' store have occurred within the past six months, the stolen goods being valrted at over £150, and it was obvious that the stuff had been carted away wholesale on each occasion. A trace of thefts was discovered in the direction of Mangere on Monday, and this led eventually to the discovery, of a quantity of goods ot the character of those stolen concealed t in a large tank on Wilcocks' premises at Panmure. Further investigations resulted in the finding of a quantity of goods buried in a paddock, the cdvering soil having been planted with potatoes after the goods had been cached. Eventually the detectives gathered together round the premises implements and goods, including two gigs, a plough, barrows, launch engine and sails, which they believe to have been stolen from various places. The quantity of the haul is so large that it. comprised two loads for the lorry which conveyed it to the police station in Auckland to b* sorted out and identified.

Wilcocks and Mclndoe appeared before Mr. j. E. Wilson, S.M., this morning, and were remanded for a week, bail being declined.