Escapers May Have Had Outside Help

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31772, 31 August 1968, Page 1

Escapers May Have Had Outside Help

The Christchurch police suspect that the escape of four prisoners from Paparua Prison early yesterday morning was planned, with assistance from outside the prison.

The prisoners, all serving terms for burglary and other offences, escaped in a prison truck at 8.50 a.m. The truck was found at the end of a track in the Ashley Domain at 2.10 p.m. At 8 p.m. yesterday the police were told by a Christchurch man that he had seen the truck and a blue Ford Prefect, similar to a 1956 model, in the domain about 10.15 a.m. Three men, one of whom had been changing his clothes, were near the truck and car, and a fourth was in bushes near the vehicles.

No report of any car having been converted, or of clothing having been stolen, had been received by the police late last night

Forty policemen and 12 prison officers searched for the escapers yesterday. More will search today, but the police are relying heavily on receiving more information from the public. The escapers are: . Garry Gerbes, aged 23, who shaved off his beard while in prison. He is' sft 6in, with fresh complexion, dark brown hair and brown eyes, a scar on the right wrist and left forearm. He also has

scars above both eyes, and numerous tattoos.

Karl Kreowsky, aged 27, a German. He is 6ft lin, and has a fresh complexion.

brown hair and blue eyes. Kenneth Stevens, aged 22. He is sft lOin and has a fresh complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. He has a scar on the back of the right hand, and has tattoos. Ross Campbell, aged 22. He is sft Bin, and has a fresh,

freckled complexion, auburn hair and haze) eyes.

The escapers were part of a gang cutting and trucking logs from wind-blown trees in a plantation on the prison property. They were loading the wood on to the truck, driven by a “trusty” prisoner, not far from the main er. trance to the prison property. The driver left the truck to go to the lavatory. The escapers drove the truck from the plantation, on to the main drive, out of the entrance and on to the old West Coast Road.