CURIOUS CRIMES.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 63, 14 March 1924, Page 3

CURIOUS CRIMES.

I I WHY ARE THEY COMMITTED? ! The solving of curious and appari ently purposeless crime is one 01 the ' uiosL difficult problems tliat puzzle Scot'laud Yard (writes Hugh Brady iv the 'London "Daily Mail"). Recently the motor bicycle and siaee.ar of the Hackney division detectiveinspector was stolen from a local garage. More valuable vehicles were left untouched. What prompted the thief in making his choice is a mystery. I Periodically there are epidemics of : i dcstructiveness intensely annoying to ' | the victims and of little or no proht to the perpetrators. People with a peculiar turn of mind are imitative, and although epidemics of curious crimes occasionally last for some time, the wrongdoers are seldom stupid cnouglt to allow themselves to fall into t»c hands of the police. Yiiidictiveness and cunning often run hand in hand. Early in the year there was an epidemic of gate stealing. In various ' I parts of London iron gates were lifted ! I from their hinges outside shops and ' I taken away in motor cars. Where they ■ j were taken to has never been disI covered, nor have the reasons that I prompted thefts which, if carried out - J for gain, brought small financial re- ' i ward to the thieves. ' ! Other curious offenders against thr i I law delight in raising false fire alarms, - | and the possibility of a fast-driven . | engine in its mad scurry to the '•fire knocking down and injuring innocent people apparently lias no terrors for the ; ' consciences of the folk who indulge in ! this form of annoyance. r I There are also" people who find enI ' joyment in destroying the pleasure of . ■ motorists by scurvy tricks. Many a i day's outing has been spoiled by broken : ! gltiss placed on well-used roads. ; i Upholstery in hotels and public conj veyances is often ripped with knifes, land the wrongdoers can only imagine i the annoyance their wanton acts cause. In a somewhat different category is , the person who sends bogus telephone messages. He can watch the outcome of - | his ill-natured prank. Perhaps he lurk- • , ingly watches doctors arriving at a I given address for an alleged sick call or j a relay of tradesmen's carts coming up with unwanted goods. There there arc the curious crimes ' for small gains. Stealing straps from railway carriages is carried on extenl sively," and the spoil provides the thief » with a god razor strop for nothing— if lie is not caught in the act. ! Amateur psychologists among the " police find the" discussion of these curi- ' j ous crimes an intellectual recreation. . ! The queer mentality of the perpetrators |, is the constant study of ambitious de- ', '• tectives, and is one that is partieu- | larly encouraged by the police chiefs.