SYSTEMATIC THEFTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 3

SYSTEMATIC THEFTS

DOZEN OFFENCES. "TO ASSIST A FRIEND." YOUNG MAN'S STORY. "You may have had what your counsel says was a good education, but your education lias been sadly neglected on one particular line," said Mr. \Y. R. McKcan, S.M., to a young man who appeared in the Police Court this morning on 12 charges of theft.

Accused, for whom Mr. G. P. Fiulav appeared, pleaded guilty to all charges. An order for suppression of accused's name was made by the magistrate. The oirenccs were committed between January 13 and May 0, the articles stolen including thv following: Two overcoats, worth £5 15/; 15 sets of drawing instruments, valued at £14; £-1 10/0 in cash; a cigarette case, worth £5 10/; a cheque for £1 5/; a rucksack, worth £1 ]/; eight books, valued at £1 14/, from three different city shops; and a leather helmet and goggles, valued at 15/.

Stolen Articles Pawned. Detective-Sergeant Mcllugh said accused lived with bis parents in a £ood home. Stealing a tickct, be claimed a parcel at the left luggage office, and sold a rucksack to a city pawnbroker. He made the offence worse by signing the name of the addressee. From three city shops be stole a number of lwoks arid sold them to second-hand dealers. The money was stolen from a bookshop, and accused spent it. ' The stolen overcoats and the helmet and goggles were pawned. A letter containing a cheque for £1 5/ he stole, and cashed the cheque in the city. "He was suspected of a lot of thefts, and was interviewed by the police on April 7, but he denied everything," said Mr. Meliugh. "On April !) ho was again interviewed, and placed in an identification parade. On that occasion ho lied like a real criminal. Later, when lie was charged and arrested, and after being admitted to bail, be admitted all the offences. He has been to other places, where he is strongly suspected of thefts. The total amount of restitution owing is £17. All the stolen articles have been recovered. This young man has been systematically thieving. There was no need for him to steal. There is little I can say in his favour, as he has been such a confirmed liar."

" A Tragedy." Mr. Finlay said the case was a tragedy. Accused came from a good home, and it was the personal efforts and sacrifices of both his father and mother that secured for liim a good secondary education. They both thought lie was doing well, as he had been taking a live interest in Church and religious matters. "And now those charges have been laid at his door," said Mr. Finlay. "However, he did not commit the offences for any personal- gain. He did it all to assist a friend, to save a friend as the result of the friend's indiscretions. Whatever the loss that has been sustained, his people are prepared to make full restitution."

Counsel added that the case was one in which the magistrate was justified in considering the interests of accused, who was yet very young. If he could be admitted to probation it would give him an opportunity of rehabilitating himself. In the interests of his unfortunate mother, who was ill, he asked the magistrate to order the suppression of accused's name.

Mr. Finlay produced two medical certificates stating that the mother was in bad health, and that a shock might result in her death.

Friend Who Gambled. The magistrate said it was extremely difficult to know what to do with accused. It was not a case of liis giving way to a sudden impulse, but of systematic thefts extending over three months. "The accused desires me to mention that he never had any of the money he derived from the thefts," said Mr. Finlay. "He gave it all to help his friend who had been gambling and did not want his father to know." Detective-Sergeant McHugh: According to the statements ho made to the police he has been spending it upon himself. Accused was placed on probation for two years, and he was ordered to make restitution of £17. "I hope I have not been unduly lenient with him," said the magistrate. "Others have been sent to Borstal for less. One can admire devotion to a friend, but not when theft enters the matter. However, I want to give him an opportunity of rehabilitating himself. If it were not for the critical state of his mother's liealth I would not have ordered the suppression of his name."