SHOPLIFTING

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21087, 12 February 1934, Page 5

SHOPLIFTING

IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE MONTH "Shoplifting is a crime very prevalent in our midst, and it must be topped as far as possible by tne court," said Mr E. D. Mosley S.M., m the Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning, v/iien sentencing Percy Major, aged 37 years, a labourer, of Leith street, to one months imprisonment on a charge of stealing one pair of sheets, valued at £1 is sa, the property of the D.I.C. Jointly charged with him was Margaret Lillian Cummins, aged 24 years, a domestic, of Seville street, and Mr W. R. Lascelles, who appeared for both, entered a plea of not guilty. „ , • i Chief-Detective W. H. Dunlop said that the movements of both accused in the shop on Friday had been noticed as suspicious by the floor superintendent, who had watched them from a place where he could see both floors. The woman accused was by the side of Major all the time. Alexander Coxhead, the floor superintendent, said he was in the showroom at 1.50 p.m. when he noticed the pair, who kept on looking round to see •f anyone was watching. The accused had caused the staff to be suspicious for some time, and had been closely watched. They went out into Lichfield street, where witness accosted them, and started to bring them bac-K J to his office. The male accused produced the sheets, but later protested j that he had taken nothing. j To Mr Lascelles, witness said that! he would be about 20 yards away when he saw the male accused take the "oods. The shop was fairly empty at the time, and the female accused was at his side while Major took the " Acting-Detective M. Mason said that Major, in a statement made to witness, aaid that he had shown the girl the sheets outside the door. The man admitted the theft, but denied that the ijirl was concerned. Mr Lascelles changed his plea for 'Nj male prisoner into one of guilty, but said that there was no evidence to show that the accused Cummins had assisted in the crimes, that she had intended to commit the crime, or even that she had knowledge of the crime. The female accused was found not guilty and discharged. Mr Lascelles said that Major had a clean record, and must have committed the theft on a sudden impulse. He had retired after 11 years' service in the New Zealand railways through contracting Bright's disease, and he asked for a fine. "I cannot do that," eaid Mr Mosley, and sentenced accused to one months imprisonment. A request for the suppression of the girl's name was rein ?ed.