Solicitor interrupted theft from car

Press, 10 May 1984, Page 6

Solicitor interrupted theft from car

A Christchurch solicitor who returned to her car parked in the city on April 1 to find items of her property strewn about and four young men around the vehicle, held one of the men while the others made off. said Detective Sergeant D. M. Quested in the District Court yesterday. Three of the men yesterday changed their pleas to guilty when they appeared before Judge Bisphan on a charge of theft of property valued at more than $l4OO. including a gold watch valued at $llOO. belonging to Isabelle Margaret Shearman. Andrew Allan Harvey, aged 19, unemployed, and Kevin John Davey, aged 23. a process worker, admitted stealing a gold watch, a purse and cosmetics, and a hand mirror of a total value of $1260. Michael George Harvey, aged 20, a metal polisher, admitted stealing a gold watch and two purses, valued at $1220. All three were remanded on bail to May 23 for sentence. The Judge called for probation reports on Davey and Andrew Harvey. Mr'P. R. Taylor appeared for the three defendants.

In the police summary. Detective Sergeant Quested said a window of the car was forced and the defendants removed property, some of which was thrown in the Avon river. They returned to the car and it was then that Miss Shearman arrived. Three men ran off, discarding some of the property, while the fourth was held by Miss Shearman. Mr Taylor asked that the matter be dealt with that day. He said the three were very drunk at the time. Property valued at $l6O was still missing. The gold watch had been found the next day. Another man, aged 21. pleaded guilty last week to a similar charge to that faced by Davey and Andrew Harvey, and will appear for sentence on Mav 17.