DARING OF THIEF

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 15

DARING OF THIEF

Robbed Occupied House ELEVEN CHARGES Articles Valued at £3OO By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, August 28. A remarkable story of lone-handed activities on the part of a youthful burglar and car thief were related tn the Police Court~’thls morning when Christopher Nevin, aged 17, appeared on eleven charges of breaking, entering, and theft, three charges of theft, and eight charges of conversion of cars and motor-cycles. The offences extended over six months, and culminated In the arrest of accused on August 16. Police investigations led to the discovery that stolen articles valued at approximately £3OO were hidden in accused’s bedroom and that jewellery had been thrown Into a creek, from which it was recovered. In one Instance Nevin had entered a house while the occupants were at home and removed the electric light bulbs from their sockets in rooms be was ransacking In case he was disturbed. He climbed to the balcony of the Presbyterian Manse while the minister was at church and stole a quantity of jewellery and money. The burglary charges were reduced to common theft to enable accused to be dealt with by the magistrate. Nevin pleaded guilty to all the charges, and was ordered to be detained In Borstal for a period not exceed-' Ibg three years. , The prisoner stated in a confession chat he had applied the stolen money to correspondence courses and a set of teeth.