SCHOOLBOY GANG AT NELSON

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27873, 23 January 1956, Page 9

SCHOOLBOY GANG AT NELSON

ORGANISED THEFT FROM SHOPS

EIGHT BOYS FROM 11 TO 14 YEARS OLD

(New Zealand Press Association) NELSON, January 20.

An organised gang of eight Nelson schoolboys, who stole goods worth £3B in shoplifting escapades in city shops ever a two-month period, faced 35 charges of theft in the Children’s Court ar Nelson this morning. The boys, whose ages ranged from 11 to 14 years, admitted the offences, and were placed under the supervision of the Child Welfare Department for 18 months by Mr H. J. Thompson, S.M? “This is a matter which should be given full publicity,” said Mr Thompson. ‘‘lt shows what small boys are capable of doing with their spare time if not controlled by parents.” Senior-Sergeant C. George told the Court that the boys were organised in a shoplifting gang which had been operating in shops in Nelson between October and early December last year. Complaints had been received from shopkeepers, and police subsequently uncovered the activities of the juvenile gang.

The extent of the thefts was startling, and police believed that a much larger Quantity of goods had been stolen than was involved in the present charges. Most of the boys were pupils at the same primary school, and one attended college. One of the youths admitted stealing a cigarette lighter from a chain store while holidaying in Wellington. Goods stolen ranged from air pistols, pen and pencil sets and roller skates to art union tickets, model ships and leather wallets. A small amount of money was also stolen.

In one instance a boy who had been given a ride by a milk roundsman stole money from a box while the man was making his deliveries. Describing the boys as ‘‘sneak thieves.” the Magistrate said the thefts were particularly bad, as they had been on a wholesale scale and not just isolated incidents. By their actions the boys had disgraced themselves, their schools, and their parents. In the eyes of the public the parents of the children would be blamed for offences, said the Magistrate. There was a duty on every parent who found boys with unexplained objects to make Ju 1 ! ”^ uirie s and satisfy themselves fioods wer ® not stolen. The world can only carry on :f people are honest. Unless you learn that quickly, you will be headed for ™ of P£ ime and end in the gutter,” the Magistrate said.