BOY BURGLARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 95, 22 April 1922, Page 7

BOY BURGLARS.

A RUST TRIO. FOURTEEN PREMISES ROBBED. A number of city burglaries which recently puzzled the police considerably were accidentally traced to three boys, two aged 15 and one 1_ years. They were apprehended and this morning brought before Mr. Poynton, 3.M., at the Juvenile Court on no less than fourteen charges of breaking and entering, all of which were admitted.- ' .. J

It was stated that the young desperadoes had gained entry to various business houses bi- breaking windows, dropping through skylights, or climbing lift wells. Their depredations were extensive, the goods stolen and damage done amounting to £112. Only £30 worth of goods had been recovered.

Chief Detective Mcllvenoy said that one of the elder 'boys "was committed to the Industrial School in 1920. He was later allowed out on license, but' his father came to the house' of the woman with whom he was staying and took him away. Then the boy was ap-i parently allowed to do as be liked. The other elder boy had previously been of good character, but latterly he got into the habit of staying away from home and consequently got into mischief. The father of the younger boy, who-li'ad ap-j parently come under the influence of the elders; was a man of good repute and had no knowledge of the tricks his son was up to.

The father of one of the elder boys asked for an adjournment for a week in order that he might obtain a solicitor.

Mr. Poynton: You needn't trouble about a solicitor. If you had fifty lawyers here they wouldn't prevent him being placed under control. He is a •perfect pest, apparently, that hoy. •-.'■ .Senior-Sergeant Rawle: I believe he was away from home, occupying m room in a lodging house.

Mr. Poynton: boy will become a regular Jack Sheppard Rf allowed loose.

The two elder lads were committed to St. Mary's Home, and the - charges against the younger were adjourned for twelve months to, allow of his' supervision by the Probation Officer, the. father to make restitution for his son's share of the stolen' goods.