THREE WOMEN ADMIT SHOPLIFTING CHARGES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28179, 18 January 1957, Page 6

THREE WOMEN ADMIT SHOPLIFTING CHARGES

Three women, one of whom had her name suppressed meantime, admitted in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday that they had committed a total of 19 thefts from shops in Christchurch and New Brighton. The value of all the goods stolen was £137 and they ranged from an ornament valued at Us to a coat valued at £24.

Emily Elvina Maude Young, aged 54 (Mr A. Hern), pleaded guilty to four charges of theft from shops and eight charges of receiving stolen goods. Christina Aileen Young, aged 36, a housewife (Mr I. A. Pringle), pleaded guilty to 10 charges of theft from shops.

The woman, whose name was ordered not to be published meantime, pleaded guilty to five charges of theft from shops and one of receiving stolen goods. Mr Rex. C. Abernethy, S.M., remanded Emily Young and the other woman to January 24 for a Probation Officer’s report and for sentence.

The case of Christina Young was adjourned to January 24 for a Probation Officer’s report and sentence.

Senior-Detective G. C. Urquhart said that detectives were called to a department store on December 14 and found that a woman, who had been seen taking goods, had been detained. An assistant had also accosted Emily Young at the same time. Emily Young refused to open her two shopping bags and began to shout. She offered the manager £5 if he would let her go. As he had not seen her take anything he let her go before the police arrived.

Later that evening detectives went to Emily Young’s house where they found a large quantity of new goods, said Senior Detective Urquhart. She told them the articles had been bought or given her as presents. The following day she was interviewed and admitted stealing goods from shops. She also admitted receiving a large number of articles from her sister-in-law, Christine Young, and that she knew they were stolen goods. She and the other woman, whose name was suppressed, had been stealing articles from shops for about three weeks before they were apprehended. Senior-Detective Urquhart said that Emily Young was questioned about the two shopping bags she had the previous evening and said she got such a fright she left them on the steps of the Government building in Worcester street. They had not been found. On December 16, Christina

Young was interviewed and she admitted that she had been stealing goods from Christchurch and New Brighton shops for about two years. She said she had given mosf of the goods to her sister-in-law, Emily Young.

The woman, whose name was suppressed, had not previously come under the notice of the police. Emily Young had one previous conviction. Christina Young, who was married and had seven children, had one previous conviction. The total value of the goods stolen by Christina Young was £ll6, by Emily Young £lO Ils 4d and by the other woman £ll. Emily Young had received goods valued at £Bl from Christina Young and the other woman had received a stolen radio valued at £lB 19s 6d from Christina Young. The only missing article was a watch that had been thrown away, said Senior-Detec-tive Urquhart. The Magistrate made an order for the return of the stolen goods to the various owners.