SENT TO GAOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 241, 11 October 1930, Page 9

SENT TO GAOL.

WOMAN SHOPLIFfER. CAUGHT IN CITY STORE. "liOVE FOR FINE CLOTHING.-' ' MAGISTRATE OX PUNISHMENT.

Remarking that fines made no impression on shoplifters and that imprisonment was the only method of stopping the evil, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court this morning sent a woman, caught stealing from a Queen Street shop last evening, to two weeks' imprisonment.

She was Gladys Ann Eeeve, a clerk, aged 32, and she pleaded guilty to stealing various articles of clothing of a total value of £13 1/2.

Detective-Sergeant Kelly said accused about 5 p.m. went to tlie shop to purchase a frock for her child. However, she did not buy a frock, but stole a pair of stockings on the ground floor, and then went to the first floor and subsequently to other departments on other floors higher up, taking articles of clothing from each. While accused was handling a garment on the third floor an assistant asked her if she required to be shown anything. When caught, the woman was taking the ticket off the garmen't. She wa? asked to go to the office, but refused to do so. A detective was sent for and he found the stolen articles in a bag which accused was carrying.

"Her house was searched by the police a'nd'a number of articles which still had the price tickcts on were found, but, of course, we can't prove tliat she stole them," added Mr. Kelly. Accused was a divorced Woman, and resided with her mother. She had a girl aged five, and was in receipt of a salary of £3 per week.

"No Apparent Reason." Mr. Allan Moody told the magistrate that he appreciated the seriousness and also the difficulties in such cases. Accused had a child dependent upon her and had been out of work for some considerable time. It was only recently that she secured a position. "I do respectfully suggest that your Worship will not send her to prison, but will find some other means of dealing with her," said counsel. "Her father, who has been blind for 16 years, is in ill health, and her mother is also ill at the present time. There is no apparent reason why accused should steal. It must be her love for fine clothing.. It was a stupid thing for her to go from one floor to another in the same shop." Mr. Moody said accused came from a most respectable family.

Major Gordon said she felt sorry for the woman, who kept a good, clean home. She had 'never been in any trouble before. Major Gordon trusted that she would not bo sent to gaol.

"Enough of These Shoplifters." fi lt would not be so bad if it was an isolated case," said the magistrate, "but here's a woman who goes from one floor to another and steals from several departments. I have, been letting shoplifters. oil' too lightly during the last few months, and if I let this one go it will be taken as the rule, and others will continue to steal."

Mr. Moody: She has no husband to look after her chiid if she is sent to gaol.

Mr. Hunt: Hei mother can look after 'her. I have had enough of these shoplifters., The last time I pave a wonm'21 days we had no shoplifters for months afterwards. Accused will be sen. tenced to 14 days' imprisonment.. Now you won't have any more shoplifters for a long time."