PICKPOCKETS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1920, Page 8

PICKPOCKETS

Piokpoekete and other undesirable* are apparently, still operating 'in and aboutWellington, and one or . moro of: these persons committed .'impudent thefts from, passengers on the; MastertbnAVellington race train on Saturday evoning. One gentleman was relieved 'of £20, and another of £18 during,the rush for seats as the return train drew into the Opaki siding. One of the gentlemen robbed was aware at the time that someone had a hand in his pocket, but he was unable to help himself on acount of the manner ia which he was hemmed in and hustled, probably by accomplices of the pickpocket. Another passenger has reason to regret that he consented to take a hand in a "quiet little for while the train stood at the Feathersfon station one of the players laid his cards: down and excused himself: for a,few moments. He did not reappear, and the man who had taken a hand became more thoroughly imbued with regret each moment,/for he had discovered in tho meantime that a sum of £50 had been spirited from hie pocket. As the suspected player did not return to the carnage by the time the train began to move several men. jumped from the carriage platform in the hope of catching the man. A passenger on the race train stated to a Post reporter this morning that "things were very;hot on the train." Games of cards, straight or otherwise, low stakes or high, wore in progress in the majority of the carriages. He was of the opinion that persons who push into the melee on race train platforms without first taking some pains to place their money in a pocket, difficult to pick are largely to blame. ''People will go to the races, ' he said, "there are not enough trains, and consequently there is a rush and scramble at every carriage. The man who keeps his money in his hip-pocket in such circumstances is really encouraging the pickpocket.' ' . ■■ ■