Smooth 'Samaritan’

Press, 6 March 1978, Page 6

Smooth 'Samaritan’

PA Auckland An Auckland dress designer and boutique manager. Mrs Amy Miller, felt victim to a “good Samaritan" yesterday. Her car was stolen by the passing friendly stranger who offered to get it started for her. “It was quite ridiculous,” said Mrs .Miller, aged 28. She parked her 1973 Mini Clubman in Pamell about 10 p.m. and returned soon after, but could not get the

car started. She was trying to roll-start it down a slight incline when a casually, but well dressed man, aged about 30, walked out of th. darkness and politely asked Mrs Miller whether she was having trouble. When it appeared the man wanted to help she suggested he give her a push, while she tried to start the car in second gear. “That Isn’t the wav to do it,” said the man, who took her place behind the wheel and got the engine started.

He then drove off into the darkness and around a corner . . . and that was the last Mrs Miller saw of him or her car. “He was so smooth about it,” she said. The handbag she had with her in the car was returned by the police yesterday morning but money and a pocket calculator it contained had been taken. The handbag had been found lying on the ground in a Parnell street.