Thief Thought he found goldmine’

Press, 23 September 1980, Page 4

Thief Thought he found goldmine’

A man who said he found a carton containing sheepskin clothing, valued at $4OOO, thought to himself “what a windfall and a goldmine,” said Sergeant W. J. McCormick in the District Court at Christchurch yesterday. Raymond Geoffrey Hill, aged 35, a beneficiary, who admitted stealing the carton on September 12, was convicted by Judge Frampton and remanded to October 6 for a probation report and sentence. In seeking bail, counsel (Mr M. J. Glue) said the old story had been advanced that “it had just fallen off a truck,” but on this occasion it was true. It was an opportunist type of offence, said Mr Glue. Sergeant W. J. McCormick said on September 12 the complainant was transporting a number of cartons around Christchurch which was part of an export con-

signment bound for the United States. One carton containing about $4OOO worth of sheepskin coats, jackets, vests, and hats, was lost off the trailer in the Aranui area, he said. Attempts to find it were unsuccessful and the police were informed. As a result of inquiries the police spoke to the defendant on September 14 and he told them that when he found the large carton, his first thoughts had been “what a windfall and a goldmine,” said Sergeant McCormick. He sold some of the property for $2OO, and some he gave to, friends. Sergeant McCormick said sheepskin clothing valued at $3025 had been recovered and compensation of $lOl5 was sought from the defendant for that which had not been recovered. . Hill was allowed bail of $lOOO.