THEFT OF BENZINE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 114, 16 May 1942, Page 5

THEFT OF BENZINE

AIR FORCE PROPERTY

GAOL FOR SERGEANT-FITTER

(0.C.)

WHANGAREI, Friday.

"Offences of this class are notoriously difficult to detect, and the punishment must be severe when it is detected. I well understand the anxiety of trie Air Force to have it checked," said the magistrate, Mr. Raymond Ferner, when Robert Cooper, a sergeant-fitter, pleaded guilty at Kaitaia to the theft of benzine the property of the Air Force.

The charges referred to two occasions when Cooper, having borrowed cars from civilian friends, replenished the benzine from Air Force supplies.

The police stated that it had been suspected for some time that aviation spirit was being stolen from the aerodrome. A squadron-leader kept a watch and saw accused drive up in a small car and take benzine. Another car borrowed by Cooper from Awanui was also found to contain aviation spirit. The car owners were ignorant of the presence of such benzine in their cars.

For accused, who pleaded guilty, it was stated that benzine lying in a drum at the back of a hangar had been in. the engine of a plane involved in a crash. Cooper thought that benzine under such circumstances was not usable again and removed it in broad daylight without criminal intent.

Cooper weeks' labour.

was sentenced to six imprisonment with hard