Two Women Took Goods Worth £1030

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 6

Two Women Took Goods Worth £1030

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 29. In one day, two Upper Hutt women shoplifters stole property of a retail value of £lO3O from 23 shops, Mr J. F. Keane, S.M., was told today by Detective-Sergeant 0. M. Mitchell.

He said that in three months before that day, the women also stole property worth £430, mostly clothing, from a number of other shops. Before the Magistrate were Marlene Jane Downes, aged 27, married, and June Whareiki McCullough, aged 42, married. Both pleaded guilty to 40 joint charges of theft. They were remanded in custody to October 6 for a probation officer’s report and sentence. Prosecuting, Detective-Ser-geant Mitchell said that on September 15, 1964, a quantity of cardigans was missing from a Silverstream shop. The matter was reported to the police and it was found that shortly, before the offence was committed the two were seen in the shop. The next day the women were seen in an Upper Hutt store, and shortly after they left a quantity of women’s blouses, valued at £22 10s, was missing from a display stand. Day Planned On September 17, the two women, accompanied by another person, set out on a planned day of shoplifting. Downes's car was used and was driven by the other person. Both women carried extra large shopping bags, he said. Detective-Sergeant Mitchell outlined in detail the women’s shoplifting that day in Lower Hutt, Tawa, Porirua, Johnsonville; Wellington and Petone. Their car was observed as they next approached the Lower Hutt city and a detective saw the two women and another person in various city shops, he said. While the two women and the other person were returning to their parked car, detectives intervened. Property from the last three (Lower Hutt) shops was in the women’s bags, and in the car was a large quantity of other stolen goods. The women were co-opera-tive and all the property taken that day was in the car, with labels affixed. Mr Mitchell said the women admitted they had embarked on a day of shoplifting and, in order that they could take men's wear, took a male person with them. Into Bags Downes said it was a joint escapade and in most cases she acted as a shield while McCullough and the male pushed stolen garments into the shopping bags. Later that evening the women were taken to their home at Upper Hutt and as a result of a search another large quantity of stolen articles was found. Both women were married and lived with their husbands in the same house. It appeared from inquiries that neither husband knew of his wife’s activities. In explanation to the police, McCullough said she

embarked on that type of stealing because of present fihancial difficulties. Downes said she had known McCullough for a number of years and was only helping her out. McCullough was married with 11 children, and Downes and her husband boarded with the McCullough family.