Nurse Stole ‘Bait’ Left By Police

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 20

Nurse Stole ‘Bait’ Left By Police

(New Zealand Press Association) NAPIER, February 17. A 20-year-old nurse, Robin Alison Yarrow, of Napier, stole money laid by the police to trap her. Detective Senior-Sergeant A. Reid told the Napier Magistrate’s Court today.

Mr Reid said that identifiable money was left in the nurses’ home, Napier, in January. following a series of money thefts from nurses’ bedrooms.

A month later, one of the baft £ 1 notes was stolen. The police found it later in Yarrow's purse. As a result, Yarrow faced five charges of theft. Represented by Mr J. D. Donovan, she pleaded guilty on each count. Mr W. A. Harlow, SM., remanded Yarrow till next week for sentence. She was allowed bai l at £5O, with one surety of £5O. Some of the nurses she stole from, who, Mr Donovan said, had “forgiven'' Yarrow, . attended the Court. Mr Redd said that between I October 27 and November 23. i last year. Yarrow stole a total I of £lB 10s from the rooms of four nurses. The Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board became concerned about the thefts and the police were informed, Mr Reid said. The numbers were taken of £1 notes left at various points about the home On February 4, one of the

notes was stolen. The police were told and Yarrow was interviewed that night. The £1 note was in her purse. Yarrow, who had been employed at the Napier Hospital for two years and a half, and had nearly completed her nursing training, had no previous convictions, Mr Reid said. “A Tragedy” Mr Donovan described Yarrow’s Court appearance as “a tragedy.” The hospital board was to consider her case this afternoon, he said. Previously, Yarrow had been unable to give him any satisfactory explanation for the offences. “She was wormed sick about them and was as pleased as anyone when at lest she was found out,” Mr Donovan said. “She recently became engaged and is to be married early next year.” Mr Hamlow: Possible. ... We’ll see. Mr Donovan: The other girls have forgiven her and some of them are present in Court.

Mr Harlow: She’s just a common thief—that’s all she is. If it is suppression of her name that you are wan ting,

that is out of the question. She is on five charges. Remanding Yarrow for a week, Mr Harlow asked for a probation officer’s report.