‘Repacking led to finding of silverware, antiques’

Press, 7 September 1982, Page 7

‘Repacking led to finding of silverware, antiques’

An Air New Zealand freight clerk who handled a consignment of a camphor chest and three suitcases labelled as containing ‘household stuff" for air freighting to Wellington found when repacking a poorly packed case that it contained silverware and expensive antique items, according to evidence given in the District Court yesterday. The evidence was given during the preliminary hearing of 41 charges against Doreen Myrtle Fraser of receiving stolen property, comprising chinaware, silverware, jewellery, antiques, and other items, totalling more than $48,000. Police alleged that the defendant, aged 41, a beneficiary, received substantial items of property from 37 burglaries of Christchurch homes, and then delivered the most valuable and saleable items to a woman, Alison Woods, who operated an antique business, Awatea Antiques, in Paraparaumu, near Wellington.

After statements of evidence of the 72 witnesses to have been called by the police were submitted, Messrs R. M. Naysmith and R.C. Holland. Justices of the Peace, committed the defendant for trial by jury on all charges. She was remanded to September 17 pending a date for trial.' Bail of $2500 in her own recognisance, and with two similar sureties, was granted.

Defence counsel (Mr S. C. Barker) reserved his defence.

All charges were denied. Under provisions of the Summary Proceedings Act, Mr Barker consented to the production of statements of evidence of the 72 witnesses, without their having to be present to give evidence for the preliminary hearing. The Crown solicitor (Mr B. M. Stanaway) appeared for the police, as informant in the proceedings.

In his outline of the charges brought by the police Mr Stanaway said that between January 4, 1981, and January 24, 1982, 37 major burglaries were committed on Christchurch homes, mostly in the Fendalton and Cashmere areas.

In each case, antiques, jewellery, crockery, and china were taken.

Police alleged that the defendant received substantial quantities of the stolen items soon after the burglaries, knowing they had been recently stolen.

She then set about delivering the most valuable and saleable items to Mrs Woods, who operated the Awatea Antiques business in Paraparaumu.

The deliveries were made by the defendant’s Jetex or air freighting items from Christchurch to Wellington, or by taking them in her own vehicle to Wellington. The total amount of property forwarded by the defendant was more than $47,000, police alleged. A police search of the antique business in Paraparaumu in February disclosed a large amount of

property, including antiques, silver, jewellery, and china. The 37 complainants positively idenitifed nearly all the ’items seized as having been stolen from their homes. On February 4. Christchurch police searched the defendant's house and seized a number of items including antiques and jewellery. Some of this property was later identified by six complainants as having come from burglaries of their homes. Police investigations showed that she had received substantial sums of money by way of cheques drawn on the Awatea Antiques account, signed by Alison Woods, during 1981, and in some instances had passed the cheques to third persons, Mr Stanaway said.

On two occasions last year the defendant, who was a domestic purposes beneficiary, purchased sports cars from a city motor dealer, one for $6OOO which was later traded in on a $12,000 car. For the latter purchase she used two cheques drawn on the Awatea Antiques account to make up the requisite 60 per cent deposit.

Air New Zealand freight records showed that the defendant, using a false name and address, air-freighted four packages to Wellington last year. When interviewed she acknowledged she had forwarded the parcels, using a false name. She had described the contents as clothing and baby’s effects.

Mr Stanaway said police alleged that on Janury 23 this year the defendant arranged for the proceeds of a recently committed burglary to be sent by Jetex freight to Wellington. She used the name. J. Woods, and declared that the contents was household stuff, valued at $5OO.

Because of poor packaging of one case an Air New Zealnd employee opened it for repacking and became suspicious at the large number of valuable items it contained. The police were advised and the case was repacked and sent to Wellington. Police alleged that on the same day the defendant travelled by car to Wellington to uplift the consignment, for delivery to Awatea Antiques. Police inquiries into telephone records showed that from October last year to February this year, 91 toll calls were made between the Paraparaumu and the defendant’s addresses, Mr Stanaway said. Questioned by detectives after her apprehension the defendant said that she was a domestic purposes beneficiary, but occasionally did some buying and selling. She said she had known Mrs Woods for about two years and a half, but denied having taken or sent any of the property from the various burglaries to Mrs Woods. She did not know how the items found in her house, and which were alleged to have come for burglaries, came into her possession.