"JOY RIDERS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 281, 28 November 1938, Page 9

"JOY RIDERS."

YOUTHS' ESCAPADES. THEFT AND CONVERSION. REMANDED IN CUSTODY. Two seventeen-year-old youths, who, between November 10 aHd 19. had been "joyriding"' about the city in six different cars which they unlawfully converted to their own use and then abandoned. appeared before Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., in the Police Court to-day. The accused, Xoel Brighty Stockwell, a car painter, and Raymond James Haughton. post office messenger, pleaded guilty to six charges of unlawfully converting to their own use live motor cars and a motor true!;, of a total value of £1130, while they also admitted the theft of an eight-gallon drum of benzine worth £1 15/4. Detective-Sergeant Xalder said the two accused were arrested by Detective Cromwell, who was in the police patrol car, near the waterfront on the night of Xovember 19. They had two cars there and Stockwell was tilling one car with benzine from another. On one occasion after they had taken a car, thev decided to go to Whangarei, but had no petrol, so they broke into a garage and stole a. drum containing eight gallons. One of the converted cars while being driven by Stockwell collided with a van and was damaged to the extent of £12. "Owing to the prevalence of these offences it was found necessary to institute a special patrol, and it was as a result of this that these youths were caught by Detective Cromwell,"' said Mr. Xalder. "Xeither has been in any trouble before." Pleading on behalf of Stockwell, Mr. Aekins said that apparently the idea was to drive round in a car and then abandon it. All the cars taken were recovered. "These two youths were caught in the rain one night and they got in a motor van for shelter." counsel said, '"but they drove home in the van. This evidently gave them the idea, and finding it was so easy to take cars, they did it again." Mr. F. H. Haigh, for Haughton,- said this accused had a good home and was in a good job, and it was difficult to explain why the offences were committed. Counsel asked that in view of his. youth and previous good behaviour Haughton be admitted to probation. "Offences of this kind are very common and they are mostly committed by young men." the magistrate said. "I will remand them in custody until Thursday morning to consider whether I will send them to the Borstal or not."