THEFT OF GAS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 13

THEFT OF GAS

Man Tampers With Meter Palmerston North, July 24. By attaching a rubber tube to a gas pipe leading into bis house, Victor Michael Reid, a relief workers, aged 27 years, was able to divert the supply of gas from the meter. This practice led to his appearance in the Police Court at Palmerston North to-day. before Mr, J. L. Stout. S.M., to face a charge of the theft of gas to the value of 3/6, the property of the Palmerston North City Council Gas Department. Accused was convicted and admitted to probation for a term of 12 montbs, an order being made for the restitution of the 3/6. On July 16 last a meter reader employed by the City Council had called at accused’s home for the purpose of reading the gas meter, stated Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike. ■' Accused was not at home, but his wife refused to allow the caller to rend the meter. As accused had been suspected of tampering with the meter the matter was brought to the notice of the police, to whom he subsequently admitted having placed a rubber tube on to the pipe loading to the meter and joined it to the pipe leading from tho meter. Accused was a married man, an dhad been on relief work for about two years.