Shoplifting for game

Press, 25 July 1985, Page 39

Shoplifting for game

PA Dunedin Some young people in Dunedin have taken to crime to support their wish to play the indoor game of Dungeons and Dragons. In the course of routine shoplifting inquiries, the Dunedin police have uncovered about $lOOO worth of stolen game parts and they know of “a number” of young people involved in the racket, said the C. 1.8. crime prevention officer. Sergeant T. G. Underhill. The game’s fans have resorted to crime to build on to their basic set, which

costs about $25. Police found several modules, which provide variation on the main theme, along with an occasional handbook. Sergent Underhill said there were probably other young people shoplifting the modules, which sell for $l2 to $2O each. One offender had ventured into dealing in them, he said. "What worries us is that young people are getting quite seriously into this game. It is quite expensive to buv all the modules and

they are going in for stealing them.” In Dungeons and Dragons each player is given a character and an objective to reach. They use dialogue to create a fantasy and each character takes turn to improvise the story and thus reach his or her objective. A game board may be used to help them visualise their movements. Sergeant Underhill said both adults and children had taken to the game and many schools had set up Dungeons and Dragons clubs.