Security man admits stealing $17,258

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33004, 25 August 1972, Page 3

Security man admits stealing $17,258

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 23.

A security officer employed by a Christchurch security services firm stole $17,258.82 from it because he felt “hard done by,” the Magistrate’s Court heard in prosecution evidence today.

Richard Barrett, aged 30, pleaded guilty to the theft, before Mr M. D. J. Sullivan, S.M.

Most of the stolen money was found on Barrett when he was searched at Wellington Airport. After hearing the police summary and submissions from counsel (Mr G. W. Alderdice) the Magistrate remanded Barrett to September 8 for probation and psychiatric reports, and sentence. Detective Sergeant M. Sears said that the accused was employed by the complainant firm, Crown Watching and Commercial Security Services (N.Z.), Ltd, in

Christchurch as a security officer. Part of his duty was to deliver money from banks to business firms.

Specific duties and deliveries were not assigned to officers until shortly before they were done.

“DUTY SOUGHT” Shortly before 9 a.m. on August 23 the accused was one of a number of officers given certain duties. His duties in no way involved collecting the money, the subject of the charge. Barrett asked to be as-

signed to collect the money and convinced his employers he had important duties to do which would be advantageous to the firm. Barrett’s instructions were to go to a Christchurch bank, uplift the money and deliver it to a large Papanui factory as wages. He collected the money at 9 a.m. but at 10.30 a.m. the complainant firm was advised that the factory had not received the money. The delivery should have taken about 15 minutes. The vehicle Barrett had driven was found not far from the bank and inquiries revealed that Barrett had planned the theft two weeks before. CHARTER FLIGHT

About that time he began making inquiries with charter airlines.

On August 20, Barrett booked a motel not far from the bank under an assumed name and arranged for a taxi to collect him from the motel at a pre-determined time on August 23. On August 22 he telephoned a charter air service at Christchurch to fly from there to Wellington and then to Rotorua. On August 23 he flew to Wellington at 9.10 a.m.

At Wellington Barrett, using another assumed name, landed at 11.42 a.m. and booked himself and the aircraft pilot into a hotel. Mr Sears said that Barrett had claimed to be a representative of an American exploration flrm, saying that he had urgent contracts in Wellington and would fly to Rotorua when these contracts were fulfilled. Later he would return to Christchurch. FALSE NAME

When the police found Barrett at the Wellington Airport terminal he gave another false name and produced a false identification card bearing his photograph. The police searched him and found a large quantity of the stolen money in a bag. More stolen money was found in a tobacco pouch Barrett carried and about $5OOO in a thermos flask, Mr Sears said. Barrett refused to answer

questions or explain the theft and his intentions.

In the bag was found an airline ticket for him to go to Auckland on August 23, under an assumed name, and an airline ticket to Singapore under Barrett’s own name. His passport was found hidden in the lining of his travel bag. “CATCH EXPECTED”

Later Barrett told the police he stole the money because he felt he was being hard done by by his firm. He said he knew he would be caught.

Mr Sears said the total sum stolen was $17,258.82. Of this, $505.82 was left in the firm’s vehicle in Christchurch. Cash recovered was $16,195, plus airline tickets worth $279.60.

Arrangements were being made to try and recover the $279.60 from the airlines, Mr Sears said.

Restitution was sought for $278.40 used by Barrett. Barrett had not previously appeared in court in New Zealand and he had told the police he had no convictions overseas, Mr Sears said.