THEFT OF BICYCLES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 332, 20 October 1908, Page 7

THEFT OF BICYCLES.

ALARMING FREQUENCY. AT CHRISTCHURCH.

(BY TELEGIUFII—rKESS ASSOCIATION'.) Christchurch, October 19. The most barefaced thefts of bicycles are being reported iu Christchurch with a frequency that is becoming alarming, and all the evidence points to tho necessity of owners of bicycles keeping a. sharp eye on their property. Two instances of the depredations of tho bicycle thief were brought to light yesterday. A gentleman who was crossing the Carlton Bridge observed a bicycle lying in the river below, and near it a bundle tied in an ordinary sack Ho landed the collection, and found that tho machine (a lady's) had been despoiled of tho handlebar, saddle, driving wheel, cranks, and pedals. Tho bicyclo seemed to be a fairly now one, and apart from the removal of tlieso paris and the damago caused by its immersion, 110 harm had boon dono. Tho contents of the bag, however, showed that a bicyclo thief of tho worst kind had been, at work. In the other caso a man's bicyclo had been fnken, and simply knocked to pieceSj probably with an axo. Tho thief apparently wanted only tho wlicols, and he had simply taken them off, bundled tho battered remains into the sack, and thrown the bundle into tho rivor. Tho police took possession of the recovered property, and stops will be taken to find tho owners.