RECAPTURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 9 January 1926, Page 10

RECAPTURED.

ESCAPEES FROM HOME. TOOK TWO MOTOR CARS. CHASED BY DETECTIVES. After three days of liberty, during which they commandeered two motor cars and careered about the countryside, sleeping under hedges at night and going without food, two youths, who escaped from the Receiving Home. Mount Albert, on Wednesday morning, are again in custody. Tbey were arrested this morning by Detectives Barling and Craigie, after a chase that commenced last evening. The boys. Andrew Piatt, aged 15. and Hector Campbell, aged 14, got away from the home before noon on Wednesday. They remained together, evaded those who were sent out to search ior them, and passed the night under a hedge. Shortly after noon on Thursday the boys took a car belonging to Mr. Robert Millar, driving it from Kingston Avenue to Blockhouse Bay. where thoy spent the night. On Friday they drove about tbe countryside in the car, till the benzine supply was exhausted. Sighted by Detectives. Leaving the car near the Public Works camp at Orakei, the pair of runaways made their way back to Auckland on foot, arriving at St. Benedict's Street at about 8 p.m. They foiind another car similar in make to that of the one which they had taken on the previous day. It belonged to Mr. Emile Leong. The pair drove off, following a route along Ponsonby Road. Travelling at a high speed, they flashed past Detectives Barling and Craigie, who were on tbe pavement. Sighting the lads, the detectives immediately took up the chase, but were handicapped by not having a car at their disposal. For some hours they searched the localities usually frequented by the elder boy, but without result. The Boys Sighted. Till 2 a.m. to-day both detectives made every effort to pick up the trail of the pair, who had disappeared in a cloud of dust along Ponsonby Road. After a few hours' sleep the officers made an early start this morning, in tlie car taken by the boys on Thursday, Mr. Millar driving. The trail led to New Lynn, where a search of the locality was made. On passing through Point Chevalier the detectives realised that they were close on the heels of the delinquents, and at 11 o'clock they were not surprised to sight" the boys in the "borrowed" motor car. Chased and Overhauled. -The boy Piatt,' for whose arrest a warrant Was signed by the magistrate only 'this morning, was at the wheel. He soon became aware of the fact that the detectives were in pursuit, and, accelerating, set off towards Grey Lynn. Both cars attained a high speed, but the joyriders made slower time than did the detectives, and an exciting chase terminated near the Zoo, where the boys were ordered to stop. * Detective Barling jumped on to the running hoard, and arrested both lads, who are now back at the home. They will ibe' brought before a magistrate on Monday. •Five •charges" of unlawfully converting cars, to his own use will be preferred against Piatt, who is alleged to have taken three cars prior to his escape from tlie institution. On the occasion of his first adventures in borrowed cars, Piatt was noticed by Detective Barling when he was driving a car. The detective obtained a fast car, and after a long chase overhauled the lad, who was sent to the home, and Temanded to appear before the magistrate this morning. ** Neither of the cars was damaged. Without Food for Three Days. When arrested this morning the boys stated that"th"e"y~went "without food for three days. They did not have'a bite till this morning, wiien Piatt obtained two loaves of bread and some sardines from a grocer, obtaining credit in his father's name. Credit is due to Detective Barling for Ills work in capturing the boys, and this adds another entry to his already long list of successes in connection with thefts of motor cars and similar depredations.