Few Reports Of Pillage

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31801, 4 October 1968, Page 1

Few Reports Of Pillage

Fifty cases of pillaging, involving goods worth $5480, have been reported to the Christchurch Criminal Investigation Branch since the beginning of the year but the branch regards this number as small.

The cases reported included pillaging from goods shipped internally and from goods which had been imported.

The Christchurch crime prevention officer (Detective Sergeant E. J. Stackhouse) said there were five reports

in January involving goods worth $538, three in February involving $507, none in March, four in April involving $237, nine in May involving $l5OO, 15 in June involving $l2OO and 14 in July involving $l5OO. It was probable that the figures were higher in both Wellington and Auckland in 1 respect of imported goods. ’ Those were the first ports of ' call for overseas vessels, and pillaging noticed when the . hatches were lifted after a . voyage would be reported at ; those centres. If it could be ascertained that the pillaging occurred before the vessel’s arrival in New Zealand the pillaging would be reported direct to

the insurance company concerned and subsequent inquiries would be made outside New Zealand. Detective Sergeant Stackhouse said containers would reduce pillaging, especially when small shipments were involved. He had also noted an improvement in the methods used for shipping goods within New Zealand. “Most companies are conscious of the need to take steps to combat pillaging," he said. “They are attempting to make their shipments reasonably pillage-proof.” The relatively quick clearance of goods from ports also assisted in reducing pillaging.