LETTER THIEF

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 65, 14 September 1926, Page 12

LETTER THIEF

DETECTED AFTER LONG VIGIL

LAD CAUGHT IN THE ACT.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHEISTCHURCH, 13th September.

A long vigil by Christchurch detectives, the pay of whom has been reckoned at £500 for the time they spent on this work alone, has been, rewarded, aud a letter thief has been apprehended;

For some time past pillar-boxes in suburban districts to the south of the city have been subjected to interference ■and detectives have been assigned to the work of trying to "catch the wrongdoer. Late last night Detective N. W. Langedon was rewarded for the month he has watched a box on the Dyer's Pass road. A lad cycled up and watched the box for some time. A passing motor-car turned a light on the boy and he made off, but the waiting detective saw enough to make it advisable for him to give chase. He followed the boy Into Addington, and apprehended him. A search revealed many letters which the boy had. He was armed with a worse knife blade, with which boxes .vere opened.

This morning the lad, well set up ::nd not quite sixteen years of age, appeared at a special sitting of the. Children's Court. Three informations were read, all relating to breaking and stealing from pillar-boxes. From one nineteen letters ancV postal packages were stolen. The offences were admitted.

Chief Detective T. Gibson asked Mr. H. Y. Widdowson, S.M., who was on the Bench, to remand the boy until 21st September. He said that there was a long liat of charges to be brought. The detection of the offences had cost the country fully £500 in the wages of detectives watching boxes.

The course suggested was followed, the boy being ordered to remain in the care of the child welfare officer in the meantime.