SHOPLIFTING

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 144, 19 June 1924, Page 4

SHOPLIFTING

WARNING TO OFFENDERS IMPRISONMENT INSTEAD OF FINES. AUCKLAND, This Day: "This is the last occasion on. which I will extend probation for offences of this kind," said Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court yesterday, to Eliza Margaret Hilda Collins (38), who ap-.« peared for sentence on seven charges of . theft, the total amount involved being £7 13s. Senior-Sergeant Rawle said that a week ago accused went into Milne andChoyce's and took an urubreila. When she was caught by an assistant she dropped a bag which she had also stolen. As a result a search warrant was executed, and resulted in five charges being preferred against her.' She had taken goods from John Court's and Hart's. Such cases, said the senior sergeant, were .-" difficult to detect, and the public always had to pay, for the shops only made up for their shoplifting losses by putting the price on their goods. Another bad feature was that in shoplifting cases suspicion fell on shop assistants. Mr. M'Nab who appeared for ■ 'accused, said that she had assisted the police to recover Hie stolen articles. She was living v;Wi her husband and son, and was m pqor health and circumstances, and for spine unexplaiiiable reason she took the goods. He asked that she should he given a chance and place t d on probation. Mr. Poynton : "I will place her on probation for two years, but let this be a warning. In future cases of shoplifting imprisonment will be imposed."