Raid thwarted

Press, 1 May 1981, Page 5

Raid thwarted

Evidence that some gang members had decided to do a smash-and-grab raid and had converted a car to drive to a jewellers, only to be thwarted by a security officer who' heard glass cracking, was given in the District Court vesterdav.

Aarius Stuart Rutledge, aged 17, unemployed, appeared for the taking of depositions of evidence of prosecution witnesses in joint charges against him of attempting to break and enter the shop of Kennett's Jewellers. Ltd. in High Street about 2 a.m. last October 22; unlawfully converting a car valued at $7OO belonging to Donald James Taylor, on the same date; and theft of a radio cassette player, speakers, cassette tapes, and other items totalling $399 from Mr Tavlor’s car.

After hearing prosecution evidence, and submissions by the defendant’s counsel (Mr R. J. Murfitt), Messrs J. C. Cottrell and D. F. Prestney, Justices of the Peace, held there was a sufficient case to commit the defendant for trial on the attempted burglary and car conversion charges.

He was remanded on bail to June 15, pending trial in the High Court on these charges. He was discharged on the theft charge. He pleaded not guilty and had elected trial by jury on the charges. They were laid jointly with two other people. Mark Paul Hooper and

Samuel Frederick Takimoana, who have already been dealt with by the Court.

Sergeant G. G. Cleland prosecuted. Prosecution evidence was given that the defendant, with the others jointly charged, had taken Mr Taylor's car and driven round Christchurch looking for a jewellers to do a smash-and-grab raid.

They stopped outside Kennetts Jewellers and the defendant and Takimoana alighted and tried to break the display window.

Behind the window was $lO,OOO worth of watches, according to the shop proprietor. ,

The shatter-proof glass only cracked, and a security guard, checking a bank nearby, heard the noise and saw two people on the footpath. They got into a car and the guard followed it and radioed his headquarters for police assistance.

The car was followed to the Addington Show Grounds and a police tracker dog was used in a search for them. The defendant made his escape but the two others were apprehended.

Mr Murfitt called no defence evidence and said he made no submissions in regard to the attempted shopbreaking charge. However, he submitted there was no case to answer to the other charges. There was no evidence that the defendant was involved in stealing the contents from the car.