FIVE PERSONS ARRESTED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 15

FIVE PERSONS ARRESTED

Shop Twice Entered Inquiries by detectives of the Christchurch Criminal Investigation Branch from, early yesterday morning until last evening culminated in the arrest of four young men and a youth. The young men will appear in the Magistrate’s Court today on charges of shopbreaking and theft. • The youth will appear in the Children’s Court later on a similar charge.

The police investigations began on December 26 when it was reported that a shop at 226 Armagh street, owned by Miss Rata McLean of Blackbird Food Products, had been broken into. The intruders stole 200 cigarettes and £8 in cash. Entry was gained by breaking a side window in the shop. On the following night, the shop was again broken into through another window. On this occasion, several hundred cigarettes, soft drinks, confectionery and Christmas cakes were taken. Information received from a man assisted the detectives. A man was apprehended at 1 a.m. yesterday and taken to the police station for questioning. Later in the morning, detectives visited a house and woke three sleeping young men who were later taken to the police station for questioning. A youth was later in the day interviewed at his work and then taken to the police station. Last evening sufficient evidence had been obtained to lay charges against all five persons It is alleged that some of them broke into the shop twice. Detective-Sergeant T. Thomson, Detective A. Peters and DetectiveConstables G. Riach, B. Preston, and N. Galbraith were engaged in the inquiries leading to the arrests.