Four Cars Converted For Smash-And-Grab Raid

Press, Volume C, Issue 29488, 14 April 1961, Page 20

Four Cars Converted For Smash-And-Grab Raid

Carefully laid plana for a smash-and-grab raid on a Christchurch jeweller's shop, from which many diamond rings and watches were stolen, involved the conversion of four ears and the theft of a sledge-hammer and an axe, according to Sergeant E. S. Tuck in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. when three men— John Maea Fonotea, aged 18, John Joseph Hill, and Clifford James Duncan Gordon, aged 21—pleaded guilty to a joint charge of shopbreaking and theft and four joint charges of car conversion. Mr A. P. Blair, S.M.. remanded them in custody to April 20 for a probation officer’s report and sentence.

Gordon also pleaded guilty to a charge of assault at the dance being held in the Scottish Society's Hall on March 4. The charges involved the conversion of cars belonging to the Canterbury Seed Company, the Christchurch Drainage Board, Stanley James Cook, and Reginald Thomas Eaton Terry, and theft from R. A. Nicholas, Ltd., jewellers, of 123 Gloucester street. The main display window of the shop was smashed about 3.30 a.m. on March 27. Sergeant Tuck said. Rings of a wholesale value of £2630 17s and watches valued at £512 5s 4d were stolen. The managing-director of the firm, John Leslie Pearson, later identified 71 diamond rings and 27 watches at the C. 1.8. office as part of the goods from the shop window. The value of the recovered rings was £2436 and the recovered watches £335 Is lOd, said Sergeant Tuck. Three display pads valued at £52 10s were recovered from the Heathcote river, and were useless. Admissions

On the night of March 28 the accused were interviewed and they admitted the offences. They said that on the night of March 26 they attended a dance in Sydenham and when the dance finished at 9.30 p.m. they arranged the raid. They first decided to steal a car. They went to the St. Albans area, where Hill obtained a sledgehammer and an axe from two open garages. In Office road they converted a Chevrolet car belonging to the Seed company from outside the home of Mr Patterson. They drove around the city looking for a second getaway car, and eventually took the Drainage Board Austin car from outsidt the home of Mr Ogilvie in Sunningvale lane. Neither car was fast enough, and they decided to look for a faster

model. They drove to the cattle track off Blenheim road, where they parked the cars. They went to the home of Mr Cook and converted a Ford Zephyr car. which was parked outside. They returned to the cattle track and left in the Austin and Zephyr cars.

The Chevrolet was left at the eattle track, said Sergeant Tuck. The Austin had a blow-out and they went back for the Chevrolet. They drove back to the middle of the city, and when travelling down Gloucester street the Zephyr ran into the back of the Chevrolet. The Zephyr car was damaged to the extent of £7O and was abandoned in Latimer square. A further car was needed, so a Vauxhall, the property of Mr Terry, was converted from outside his home in Avonside. The accused said that the Vauxhall was to be left in Fitzgerald avenue before the raid so that the Chevrolet, which was to be used in committing the offence, could be abandoned and the Vauxhall could be used to leave the neighbourhood. Sledge-hammer Used

The Chevrolet was pulled up outside the jeweller’s shop and the sledge-hammer and axe were used to smash the window. Watches and rings were removed from the glass shelves just inside the broken window. The accused then drove to Fitzgerald avenue and transferred to the Vauxhall, which was found abandoned in Wainoni.

Inquiries were made, and a visit was made to a room in a private hotel in Manchester street where Hill was staying. A linen bag containing the recovered watches and rings was found behind a wardrobe. A watch was kept on the room, and when Hill returned he was arrested and taken to the C. 1.8. office. Sergeant Tuck said. He admitted being a party to the five offences. Later Gordon and Fonotea were interviewed. and they also admitted being involved.

It was later established that Fonotea waited in the Vauxhall. Gordon and Hill smashed the window and swept the jewellery into two wicker baskets. A fourth man was behind the wheel of the waiting car. Can Changed After changing cars they went to New Brighton, where they examined the loot and later went to Cashmere near the Princess Margaret Hospital. It appeared that at this stage the ring pads were thrown into the Heathcote river. They hid the jewellery and returned to the city. Later Hill. Gordon, and the fourth man returned to where the jewellery was hidden, and it was taken to the private hotel. The three accused had previous convictions. Restitution of £509 10s was asked for. Hill. Fonotea, and Gordon were quite frank over the matter and assisted the police in their inquiries. Referring to the assault charge against Gordon, Sergeant Tuck said the accused struck the complainant several blows during the dance at the Scottish Society’s Hall on March 4.