KEYS STOLEN FROM CARS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 172, 18 April 1939, Page 3

KEYS STOLEN FROM CARS

Labourer Convicted Of Attempted Conversion The theft of several keys from motor-cars awaiting shipment from Wellington last Saturday led to the appearance in the Magistrates’ Court yesterday of William John Aekins, labourer, aged 25. He pleaded guilty to the theft of seven keys, valued at £1 2/6, the property of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Ltd., but not guilty to a charge of attempting to convert a motor-car valued at £2OO. Air. R. Hardie Boys appeared for him. After hearing evidence, Air. J. H. Luxford, S.M., convicted accused on both charges and remanded him to appear in Wellington again today. Usually the Court did not consider probation in this type of case, said the magistrate, but in this, instance he would ask for a report from the probation officer. The police said accused had not previously been in trouble, and nothing was known against him. Evidence showed that accused was seen entering ears on Waterloo Quay by employees of the Wellington Harbour Board. He was under the influence of liquor and went to a car find tried the door with a key. He could not enter this car and tried the next one. It was alleged that he tried two other ears before ‘entering a vehicle. 'When told by a wharf storeman. “Here’s a policeman, you bad better beat it,” accused allegedly went away. Constable »S. Williams said he accosted accused on the wharf and asked him what he was doing interfering with cars in Waterloo Quay. At first he said he wanted to sleep, but later told the constable that he wanted to leave Wellington. When taken to the Central Police Station accused said lie had been a fool and would tell the truth. He produced seven keys which he said lie had stolen from new cars awaiting shipment on the wharf. He said'be had taken the keys with the idea of using them in an attempt to ' convert a car. He blamed the liquor ; he had consumed for his lapse. , Air. Boys said that Im did not think , accused would have got so far as to I drive a car away.