Most Stolen Goods Sold To Public

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31211, 8 November 1966, Page 1

Most Stolen Goods Sold To Public

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 7. Many New Zealanders received stolen goods inadvertently, Detectice Sergeant R. L. Butler, director of the police crime prevention section, said today.

He was speaking to senior Wellington insurance officers attending a special crime prevention course in Wellington. Mr Butler said the majority of goods stolen in New Zealand were sold by the thief to innocent members of the public under cover of some spurious story. The most common story was that the goods had been brought into New Zealand without going through Customs. Others were that the goods were factory “seconds” or excess stock. Much of the selling was done in hotel bars or in some cases, by door-to-door salesmen with suitcases full of “bargains.” Clothing, factory goods, watches and electrical and transistor equipment were disposed of in this way. “As long as the guy selling has some sort of story that sets the customer at ease, he will sell his goods,” Mr Butler said.

At this time of year clothing stores and warehouses were a popular target for burglars, he said. The clothing was then peddled by door-to-door salesmen with the story that the goods were excess stock which had to be cleared before Christmas. Mr Butler said that householders should always beware of bargain salesmen.