Boys extort money from elderly women

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 1

Boys extort money from elderly women

PA Dunedin Dunedin detectives have uncovered a schoolboy extortion ring using terror tactics to force money from elderly women.

Nine boys, aged 13 and 14, have been interviewed about thefts involving at least $7OO. Detective Senior-Ser-geant G. Howell said yesterday that this might be only the “tip of the iceberg.”

A lot more money might be. involved and other schoolchildren might be in the ring, he said. The boys have been calling - at the homes of

elderly women on the pretext of wanting to use a lavatory or telephone. Once inside, the usual method had been to grab the woman and threaten her unless money was handed over, Detective Howell said.

He did not name the school the boys attend, but said they travelled a considerable distance to carry out the thefts. He appealed to women who had had money extorted to get in touch with the police. He also warned them not to open the door if further calls were made by any schoolchildren asking to use a lavatory or

telephone but to tell them where to find the nearest public telephone box or convenience and then telephone the police. Detective Howell said a boy aged 13, who admitted his part in taking $4OO was too young to be charg-

ed in court. The schoolboys returned to houses several times, demanding more money and repeating the threats, he said. One pensioner is known by the police to have paid out $6OO and another more than $9O before a complaint to the police allowed them to apprehend some of the boys.