Burglary spree 'to pay mortgages’

Press, 8 July 1976, Page 2

Burglary spree 'to pay mortgages’

PA Timaru Bail was refused two men after they admitted the aggravated assault of a police constable at Lake Tekapo and a series of burglaries throughout the South Island in which cash and goods worth more than $5500 were taken. Stuart Robinson, aged 42, a pipe fitter, of Rangiora, and Norman Wilson, aged 38, a butcher, of Kaiapoi, were convicted and remanded until July 22 for a probation report and sentence by Mr J. D. Kinder, S.M., in the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Each was charged with assaulting Constable W. A. Apes, on June 30. and they were jointly charged with being In possession of instruments capable of being used for burglary and on eight counts of burglary at various places in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, between April 16 and June 30. They pleaded guilty *n the Magistrate’s Court. Sergeant J. R. Laredo said that about 9.30 p.m. on June 30 Constable Apes saw the two men standing behind a station waggon near the Church of the Good Shephered, at Lake Tekapo and asked them if they were having any trouble, because it had been snowing. In further discussion, the defendants developed ‘‘an uneasy demeanour,” and the constable became suspicious. As he was bending down to read the front number plate of the vehicle, he was attacked from behind. He was hit a severe blow on the head with his torch which

had been grabbed, and suffered a forehead wound which required six stitches. “Constable Apes managed to struggle to his car, intending to summon help over the radio-teiephone. said Sergeant Laredo. "But he was dragged from the car, and hit repeatedly round the head with closed fists. The constable went down, and as he lay on the ground |he was kicked about the head and body by both defendant . who were wearling heavy boots." Constable Apes, whose injuries required a total of 12 ! stitches, was left on the (ground semi-conscious. (When he was eventually J —- —— —

i able to summon help ovei the radio, an alert was instituted. “He was severely iacerated, bruised, shocked, and concussed, and lost a considerable amount of blood," said Sergeant Laredo. After a search the two men were arrested on the outskirts of Gerladine at 11.50 p.m. During a chase just west of Fairlie, a passenger in the station waggon was seen to throw something out of the vehicle, and later a bag was found, con- : taining 1| sticks of gelignite, six detonators and fuse, and $23.75 in change. The following morning it was discovered that the Lake Tekapo post office had beer ! broken into, and $27.02 sto- ■ len from a drawer. ! “The men said they hac ■ panicked when approached ;by Constable Apes, because (they had just committed the post office burglary. “After their arrest, theit homes at Kaiapoi and Rangiora were searched, and a considerable amount of stolen property was recovered.” ; Sergeant Laredo outlined the eight joint offences, at Lawrence (on April 16), Kaiapoi (May 21-22), Makikihi post office, Glenavy garage, land another garage at Kurow i(May 26-27), Dipton (May 29), and Lake Tekapo. “Since their arrest, both defendants have written letters of apology to Constable Apes, expressing regret for the assault,” he said. “Both stated that they set out to ; commit crimes to obtain Imoney to offset heavy mortgages incurred in building new homes.”