WALLET THIEF

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 241, 12 October 1942, Page 4

WALLET THIEF

"MADE UP FOR LOST TIME"

SALESMAN SENT TO GAOL

When James Doyle, a salesman, aged 38, appeared before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., in the Police Court to-day and admitted eight charges of theft, Senior Detective Walsh said nearly all the charges were for theft lof wallets containing money from 10/ up to £40. The offences were committed between January 28, 1941, and September 10, 1942. "The total value of the wallets and money Doyle stole amounted to £114 17/6, said Mr. Walsh. "This man is an enterprising thief, and his method was to call at a factory or an office and ask for a quotation on some line of article. Then he would ask if he might use the telephone. If the opportunity presented itself he would steal wallets from clothing. The other day he was seen in the street by one of his victims and his arrest followed. Doyle has 17 previous convictions for theft. Twice he haß been placed on probation and twice he has been convicted for | breach of probation. Not long ago he was before the Court for supplying misleading information and for failing to enrol in the reserve, and for that he received one month's imprisonment. Altogether he has 22 previous convictions. He has done no work for six months."

Doyle told the magistrate that he had not been In trouble for Ave years. "I was up against it financially and I took the easy way out. Now I'm ready to take my punishment," he said.

"You certainly made up for lost time," said Mr. Luxford, who sentenced Doyle to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labour on one charge and six months on another, the terms to be cumulative.