YOUTH’S THEFTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 8

YOUTH’S THEFTS

Articles Taken From Beach Sheds BORSTAL SENTENCE . “As soou as he came to Wellington he set out on a career of crime,” said Detective-Sergeant P. Doyle, in the Magistrates’ Court, 'Wellington, yesterday, describing how Peter Frederick Bond, carpenter, aged 17, who pleaded guilty to 13 charges of theft, and one of attempted theft, and was committed by Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., to a Bor-, stal institution for a period not exceeding two years, stole a miscellaneous list of articles, mainly from dressingsheds around Wellington bays.

The thefts, said the detective-ser-geant, were committed between January 29 and March 16, and included two thefts at Milford Beach, Auckland. “He was born in England, according to his own story, in 1921, and his parents died -when he was six months old. He was brought to New Zealand by two women with whom he lived at Auckland until he was nine, when he was placed in a home, from where he later absconded.” Later still he obtained a job with the Fletcher Construction Company as an apprentice at a wage of £2 a week, out of which he

was to repay the home, i-onlunie.i the detective-sergeant. This he failed to do, however, and after committing two thefts at Auckland lie came to Wellington, where he set out on a career of crime. “lie was quite frank when interviewed by a detective,” said the detective-ser-geant, “and confessed to a number of other thefts which had not been reported to the police.” When he first appeared in court at Wellington lie was placed iu the Salvation Army home to save him the stigma of being remanded in custody, but absconded and was caught in the act of robbing a till. Then he gave himself up. “It is difficult to recommend what should be done with him ; lie has ignored all advice and has been running wild and thieving all the time he has been in Wellington,” the detective-sergeaut said “I think in your own interests von need discipline.” said the niaristrnte The total value of three stolen pocket wallets and contents was £.V/u/ii. two watches. £5/10/-; money stolen from persons unknown, £l4/7/1; two starting pistols, £2/15/-; a diary, 2/-; a mouthorgan, 2/-; a pair of swimming shorts, the property of the 'Wellington City Council, 6/-.