SENT TO PRISON

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 48, 25 August 1926, Page 12

SENT TO PRISON

WOMAN SHOPLIFTER

NO MOTIVE FOR THEFTS

' (By Telegraph.) (S|tocW to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day.

The owcoai which she wore plus the smartness of the detective, and the keen discernment of an employee of a large city emporium, proved the undoing of a woman whose career of shoplifting was suddenly cut short yesterday. Some six months ago an overcoat was stolen from Milne and Choyce. Yesterday,,-about 11.45, the house manager of this establishment observed ;i woman wearing a' coat which was similar to the one stolen. Not having sufficient evidence', to warrant him questioning or detaining the woman, he telephoned to a detective, who arrived in quick time, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. However, the detective was given a good description and then proceeded along Queen street. He had not gone far when he saw his quarry. Keeping her under close observation, the detective was led into Hart Brothers' shop. He noticed the woman lift a couple of articles from the stand but did not see her replace them. She then left the shop and walked into Smith and Caughey's, but did not steal anything there. On accosting the woman, the detective ■ found the articles taken from Harts' in her possession, and she was then arrested.- The woman, whose age was listed at 41 years, and whose name was ordered to he suppressed, this morning pleaded guilty to several-shoplifting charges.

The chiei' detective said that the accused had gone from shop to shop stealing. She came from a most respectable family, and her husband held a prominent position in the city. The accused was living in a house worth anything between £2000 and. £3000. It was lavishly furnished, and her surroundings were comfortable indeed.

"One 'feels oneself in a difficult position in such, a case as this," said Mr. J. M. Hogben, who appeared for the woman. ._ "The husband is in :i good position, while two daughters have only recently embarked on professional careers, one teaching elocution and the other singing. Apart from the husband's income, the accused and her husband were interested in property, and derived an income therefrom. If your Worship does not consider probation can 'be applied, probably you could inflict a flue. The accused has money."

Mr. Poynton, S.M.: "A fine to a millionaire'is like a blessing. It is no punishment, to a rich person to be fined. We' are getting too lavish in the dispensation of probation. I Jm afraid probation is encouraging these offences. The accused will be sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment on one charge and convicted and discharged on all the others. She will also be admitted to probation for three years." .

The Magistrate, in reply to Mr. Hogben's strong plea for the suppression of the accused's name, said the names of .offenders guilty of. systematic shoplifting were never suppressed. However, owing to the positions held by the accused's daughters, the Magistrate made the desired order.