ON A SUNDAY

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 77, 27 September 1924, Page 10

ON A SUNDAY

BRAZEN THEFTS IN AUCKLAND

JUVENILE DESPERADOES,

(BI TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, 25th September. Ha! been to the pictures, I suppose, and seen stunts there," commented Mr. Poynton, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day, when he was confronted by five young "desperadoes," who sheepishly admitted a series of amazingly brazen thefts from shop windows. It happened on a Sunday, and a detective mentioned that one of the boys dial not tak 6 part in the sharing of certain of the spoil "as he was at church." "At church " said the Magistrate, and added an eloquent "H.uniph!" Four of the accused were 16 years of age, and one of them 15. Still more remarkable was the fact that one of them, a. genius whose exploits suggested pictures to the Magistrate, was said by his counsel to be addicted to drink at times.' "He does not seem to have any too much respect for the law," commented Chief-Detective Cummings. According to Detective Barling, the quintet, three of whom were New Zea-land-born, spent 14th September, a Sunday, wandering round sweet and tobacco shops and helping themselves to an assortment that included tobacco of several kinds, four pipes, cigarettes, hair oil, shaving soap, matches, chocolates, and artificial cider. One of the party was armed with a glass-cutter, and while his mates stood round him he would score a window with the cutter. They would wait until a tramcar was passing to cover the noise of breaking glass, smash the window, and help themselves The Magistrate said that he would admit the boys to probation for three years. He made the term that long because they must be supervised. The boy that carried the glass-cutter would have to pay for the damage done to plate-glass windows, about £15. His Worship added that they might think they had been smart, but it was not smartness, and if they did not mend their ways they would certainly get into more serious trouble. The youth who was said to drink at times was ordered to be prohibited.