MESSAGE BOY'S THEFT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 280, 26 November 1928, Page 17

MESSAGE BOY'S THEFT.

PARCELS NOT POSTED. RECEIPTS STAMPED BY HIMSELF. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, Sunday. A boy of 15 years pleaded guilty in the Children's Court to two charges of theft of motor parts from his employers. Detective-Sergeant Young said the boy was sent by his firm to post a parcel of goods. He returned -with a receipt, but it was subsequently found that the parcel had not reached its destination. On the second occasion he was given another parcel to post. This parcel was thrown in the river and was not posted, but the boy returned with the receipt. The boy's scheme was a most ingenious one, said the detective. He filled in the forma at the post office and when the clerk's back was turned seized the rubber stamp and stamped the receipts. He then threw, the parcels away and took the postage money for himself. The boy had received a good thrashing from his parents and was apparently fully cognisant of his position. His employer spoke well of him and would give him another chance. The magistrate told the boy he deserved all he got and he would have to go straight in the future. The boy promised to reform and was ordered to refund 16/, the value of the first parcel, and 1/4 postage money. He was placed under the supervision of the child welfare officer for two years.